Country name
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form: none
former : United Arab Republic (with Syria)

Data code EG

Government type republic

National capital Cairo

Administrative divisions 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, AlBahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah,Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid,Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, JanubSina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj

Independence 28 February 1922 (from UK)

National holiday Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)

Constitution 11 September 1971

Legal system based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicialreview by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrativedecisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed El-GANZOURI (since 4 January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections : president nominated by the People's Assembly for a six-year term, thenomination must then be validated by a national, popular referendum; nationalreferendum last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1999); primeminister appointed by the president
election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by thePeople's Assembly to a third term

Legislative branch bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b(454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; membersserve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura - whichfunctions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote,88 appointed by the president; members serve NA-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - last held 29 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000);Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP 72%, independents25%, opposition 3%; seats by party - NDP 317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG5, Nasserist Arab Democratic Party 1, Liberals 1; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch Supreme Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders National Democratic Party (NDP), President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader,is the dominant party; legal opposition parties are as follows: New Wafd Party(NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN; Socialist Labor Party (SLP), Ibrahim SHUKRI; NationalProgressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid Muhi al-DIN; Socialist LiberalParty, Mustafa Kamal MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party, Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'imTURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr al-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party),leader NA; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party, Dia' al-din DAWUD; DemocraticPeoples' Party, Anwar AFIFI; The Greens Party, Kamal KIRAH; Social JusticeParty, Muhammad 'ABDAL-'AL
note: formation of political parties must be approved by government

Political pressure groups and leaders despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technicallyillegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significantpolitical opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by theBrotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more aggressively in thepast two years to block its influence; trade unions and professional associationsare officially sanctioned

International organization participation ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), AL, AMF, BSEC(observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer),OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEMIII, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP,UNRWA, UNTAES, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131
consulate(s) general : Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.
embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900
telephone : [20] (2) 3557371
FAX: [20] (2) 3572000
branch office: Alexandria

Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with thenational emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoistside above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered inthe white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band;also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flagof Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontalline centered in the white band

NOTE: The information regarding Egypt on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Egypt Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Egypt Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.