Egypt’s Sisi to ban free and subsidised goods for new families

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said newlyweds can no longer expect free or subsidised food for their future children

MENA

1 min read

Thaer Mansour

22 December, 2021

Sisi has blamed many of his country's current woes on overpopulation [Getty]

CAIRO - Egypt President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi announced on Wednesday that new families will no longer receive food rations from the state.

"We are responsible before God to set the rules and measures that enable this country to stand on its feet. Hence, we won't allow subsidies for more than two persons [in the same family]… and there will be no new ration cards for new families," he told officials following the inauguration of a number of national projects in southern Egypt.

Sisi's decision is expected to have a grave impact on the poor and lower-middle-class in a country where almost one-third of the population lives below the poverty line.

Basic supplies offered for free by the ministry of supply and internal trade include bread, oil, sugar and rice.

Sisi, a father of four, denounced his country's "culture of population growth", and said parents must consider how they will support the children they bear.

He has on numerous occasions pointed to overpopulation as one of the major problems facing economic growth in Egypt.