On March 26, the polls in Egypt opened giving Egyptians three days to cast their ballot for president of the North African nation. Abdul Fattah el-Sisi, the sitting president, faces off against relative political unknown Moussa Mostafa Moussa. The election is expected to be little more than a formality extending el-Sisi’s presidential mandate another five years.
Numerous candidates were at one time in the race, including former Prime Minister Ahmed Shawfik. Shawfik ran against Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi in the 2012 election. Shawfik garnered 48.27% of the vote but Morsi edged him out with 51.73%. Shawfik later fled the country to Abu Dhabi after Morsi issue a warrant for his arrest.
Leading up to the current elections, it has been widely reported that other candidates were intimidated and strong armed into withdrawing from the race.
President el-Sisi has enacted a number of austerity measures that are unpopular with the poor but have earned him praise in world circles including by the International Monetary Fund who has given Egypt a massive financial bailout package in part based on the positive steps the el Sisi administration has taken to improve the Egyptian economy.