EGYPT COUNTRY REPORT
Country Report: Egypt
October 2026
By Elisabeth Lucetta
Once considered relatively stable in the Middle East and North Africa, Egypt faces growing security threats from terrorism, transnational crime, and domestic unrest. Its strategic location, controlling the Suez Canal and bordering Libya, Sudan, Israel, and Gaza, makes it a key regional security actor while exposing it to cross-border threats. According to the UN Secretary-General’s 2026 strategic report, Islamic State affiliates continue exploiting conflict and weak governance. The Islamic State–Sinai Province (IS-SP) remains active, although weaker than during its 2015–2018 peak.
In response, the Egyptian government has placed security at the centre of political life. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power in 2014 following the 2013 military coup that removed Mohamed Morsi. Since then, the government has used terrorism and instability to justify greater centralisation, while the military has expanded its influence over civilian governance. El-Sisi’s “new republic” reflects this restructuring, while the Strategic Command Headquarters underscores the armed forces’ central role. Meanwhile, expanded presidential authority has narrowed opportunities for independent political activity, leaving opposition figures, journalists, activists, and civil society organisations facing tighter restrictions and increased state scrutiny.
Egypt continues to face concerns over minority rights, particularly those of Nubians and Coptic Christians. Thousands of Nubians were displaced during the Aswan High Dam construction in the 1960s. Despite Article 236 of the 2014 Constitution supporting their return, implementation remains limited. Coptic Christians, comprising roughly 10% of the population, face discrimination in political representation, religious expression, and church construction. Recent US State Department concerns highlights their underrepresentation in senior government roles. Restrictions and obstacles to building and renovating churches further reinforce their unequal position in public life, alongside restrictions on religious expression.
Women also face structural barriers to employment. The World Bank reported female labor force participation of 18.5% in 2025, compared with 70.5% for men. The decline in secure public-sector employment has reduced opportunities for women, while high living costs, unequal childcare responsibilities, transport barriers, and limited workplace support further restrict access to work. These challenges, including the unequal distribution of care responsibilities, reinforce women’s economic dependence and limit their equal participation in Egypt’s economy.
The continued presence of IS-SP reflects Stage 5: Organization. The heightened military influence, along with political repression and executive centralization, is consistent with Stage 6: Polarization. Discrimination and unequal protection affecting Nubians and Coptic Christians can be considered indicators of Stage 3: Discrimination. These classifications indicate warning signs and risk factors rather than establishing that genocide is occurring.
Genocide Watch recommends:
The Egyptian government should strengthen protections for minority communities by implementing constitutional commitments to Nubian rights and ensuring equal religious protections for Coptic Christians.
The Egyptian judicial authorities and independent human rights bodies, with support from international organizations such as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, should enhance accountability mechanisms by investigating allegations of discrimination and human rights violations.
The Egyptian government, Ministry of Labor, and civil society organizations should increase women’s economic participation by expanding access to secure employment, childcare support, and workplace protections.
