Expanding the military’s role under El Sisi’s rule has affected politics, economy, and security

The military’s expanding role in Egypt under President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has had adverse effects on the country’s economy, security, and political scene, Abdallah Hendawy writes for Reuters. Whereas previous regimes in Egypt also relied on the armed forces to control core positions in the state, El Sisi “brought the military out of the shadows, allowing him to consolidate power and generate relative stability, but also distorting Egyptian political and economic life.” The military’s expanding activity in the private sector is also possibly taking away from its core duty of protecting national security, Hendawy says.