The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi has been re-elected in a landslide victory. Results announced on Monday afternoon gave Sisi 97.08% of valid votes on a 41.5% turnout, a slight increase in the number of votes in his favour despite a dip in turnout from the previous election in 2014. Mr al Sisi faced no serious challenge, after a string of candidates were arrested or withdrew under pressure. His sole opponent Moussa Mustafa Moussa was a supporter of the President and took few opportunities to test him. Mr Moussa registered as a candidate days before the closing date - critics of the regime claimed the move was to stop it becoming a one horse race. He won less than 3% of the vote, while over 7% of all those cast were spoilt or deemed invalid. The figures were released by the electoral commission on Monday and show turnout dropped significantly from 47% in 2014. Mr Moussa conceded defeat days earlier, admitting he hoped for 10% of the vote. But I know the immense popularity of President Sisi, he said. The result secures Mr al Sisis position and his direction for Egypt, following the revolution that began in 2011. His predecessor, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, was the first democratically-elected president - but ousted by Mr al Sisi in 2013. Mr al Sisi posted a picture of himself on Twitter after the final election results were announced with the caption: Long live Egypt.
