Egypt's President El-Sisi wins 3rd term with 89.6% of vote

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has served as president of Egypt since 2014. Results will to be announced on Monday, Dec. 18.

CAIRO -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Monday won a third term in office, earning 89.6% of the vote, the National Elections Authority said in a statement.

Egyptians voted last week in an election eclipsed by the war in neighboring Gaza, with incumbent El-Sisi guaranteed another term in the absence of a serious challenger and despite growing economic woes. His strongest competitor picked up about 4.5% of the vote, officials said.

The three days of voting took place as Egypt grapples with the worst economic crisis in years, with a growing debt burden, repeated currency devaluations and soaring living costs that rendered Egyptians worse off. Many people blame heavy state spending on infrastructure and mega-projects, including a multibillion-dollar new capital east of Cairo.

But the war in Gaza, on Egypt's eastern border, has largely deflected people's attention away from the economy.

Wafaa Hassan, 43, housewife, said her focus has now shifted to security.