Izuchukwu Okosi
By Izuchukwu Okosi
There is widespread joy on the streets of Cairo as the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday evening ended the state of emergency in the country for the first time in a few years.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelOn April 10, 2017, the Egyptian parliament declared a state of emergency for three months to “confront the dangers of terrorism in Egypt” in response to bombings that targeted two churches in the north of the country, killing at least 45 people. Daesh/ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.
“I decided for the first time in years to cancel the extension of the state of emergency throughout the country,” al-Sisi said on the government’s verified Facebook page.
“I am glad that we share together the moment that we have long sought with struggle and hard work. Egypt has become, thanks to its great people and loyal men, an oasis of security and stability in the region,” he said.
Under the state of emergency, which has consistently been renewed in accordance with the constitution, Egyptian authorities have the right to evacuate areas, impose a curfew, take strict security measures and punish violators with imprisonment.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
