Egypt’s Lost Decade: El-Sisi’s Rule Leaves Millions Struggling to Survive

Twelve years on from the day Field Marshal Abdel Fattah El-Sisi promised a new dawn for Egypt, many Egyptians say they are worse off than ever. A country that once dared to dream now grapples with staggering poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and a deep sense of betrayal.

Tears flowed this past week instead of celebrations, as the anniversary of the June 30 protests—once hailed by the regime as the birth of a “New Egypt”—coincided with a horrific highway accident that killed 19 schoolgirls. The road, built by a military-owned firm, symbolized everything El-Sisi had pledged to fix. But for families burying their daughters, it represented something else: failure.

A Revolution Derailed and Democracy Crushed

The summer of 2013 feels like a distant memory now.

Millions poured into the streets on June 30 that year, frustrated with Islamist rule under Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi. Just three days later, El-Sisi, then defense minister, led a military coup that ousted Morsi—setting the stage for a military-backed regime that has ruled with an iron fist ever since.

In the chaotic months that followed, power was temporarily handed to Chief Justice Adly Mansour, but everyone knew who was calling the shots.

El-Sisi’s eventual run for president in 2014 came with slogans that touched every Egyptian heart. He promised security, jobs, and a “great Egypt.” He pledged compassion. He vowed justice.

He won with a staggering 96.91% of the vote. Critics say that number said more about the polls than the people.

Infrastructure Projects That Shimmer but Kill

In September 2018, El-Sisi stood proudly as he inaugurated the Regional Ring Road, one of the many grand projects his government launched. Less than seven years later, that same road became the site of tragedy.

Last Friday, 19 girls returning from school in Monufia province died in a collision on the very road the president once celebrated. According to local media reports, it was the 63rd serious accident on that stretch since it opened.

And the toll is staggering:

• 116 dead

• 470 injured

• Dozens of families shattered

There’s no comfort in statistics when your child is among the numbers.

The Price of Grand Promises: Soaring Debt, Empty Pockets

El-Sisi’s Egypt has seen an explosion in infrastructure spending. New roads, bridges, a new administrative capital in the desert—all promoted with nationalistic fervor.

But critics say these shiny projects mask a grim reality. Egypt’s external debt ballooned from around $43 billion in 2013 to more than $165 billion by early 2025, according to data from the Central Bank of Egypt.

Basic services, meanwhile, have collapsed. Prices of everyday goods have more than tripled. The local currency has been devalued multiple times. For the average Egyptian, putting food on the table has become a daily battle.

In early 2024, inflation soared past 35%. As subsidies were slashed under IMF pressure, millions fell below the poverty line.

Ordinary Egyptians Bear the Brunt

Walk through the backstreets of Cairo or the dusty alleys of Sohag, and the discontent is impossible to ignore.

Abu Hamza, a fruit vendor in Azhar, said he hasn’t seen a profit in months. “People don’t even have money for tangerines,” he shrugged. “They just walk by. Sometimes they ask for one, just one, for their kid.”

The pandemic worsened things. The war in Ukraine drove up wheat prices, hammering Egypt—the world’s largest wheat importer. And now, with regional tensions flaring again, foreign investors are spooked.

One resident near Tanta said bluntly, “Twelve years, and I’m still waiting for the Egypt they promised me.”

A Nation Tied in Military Knots

Since El-Sisi took power, the military’s grip on Egypt’s economy has tightened. Generals oversee vast swathes of real estate, manufacturing, and infrastructure. From highways to bottled water, military-linked firms dominate the market.

That concentration of power has its critics. Many argue it strangles competition, sidelines civilian entrepreneurs, and drains public resources.

A leaked 2022 World Bank review warned that Egypt’s economic model was “unsustainable” without major reform. That reform hasn’t come.

Political Repression Makes Accountability Impossible

It’s not just the economy that’s under pressure. Egypt’s civil society has been decimated.

Thousands of political prisoners remain behind bars. Protests are outlawed. Independent media is all but extinct. Even mild criticism of the president can land someone in jail.

Mohamed Morsi died in detention in 2019 under circumstances human rights groups labeled as “cruel and inhumane.” His fall was once painted as necessary for stability. But 12 years later, Egypt feels anything but stable.

A former university lecturer in Giza put it simply: “We traded freedom for food. And now we have neither.”

Public Anger Simmering Beneath the Surface

Despite the regime’s tight grip, public frustration simmers quietly—shared in whispers, social media satire, and conversations that fade into silence when strangers pass.

The government’s move to increase compensation for the victims of last week’s crash—from the usual 50,000 Egyptian pounds to 100,000—was met with a shrug. One parent reportedly told a local journalist, “No money can bring my daughter back. And no road should take her life.”

The economic pain, paired with growing fatigue from empty slogans, is beginning to puncture the narrative of progress. But whether that will ever translate into change remains uncertain.

Egypt’s Social Indicators Since 2013

To understand just how far Egypt has slipped for ordinary people, here’s a look at key economic indicators:

That spike in inflation? It means the average Egyptian now spends far more to get far less.

The Disconnect Between Words and Lives

“You are the light of our eyes,” El-Sisi once told Egyptians.

But these days, the lights often go out. Power cuts are back. So are water shortages. Hospitals overflow. Classrooms are packed.

The promises haven’t held up. The slogans ring hollow. And the faith many once placed in a uniform now feels deeply misplaced.