Sisi sworn in as Egypt's president for second term

CAIRO - President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in on Saturday as the President of Egypt for a second term until 2022, state-run Nile TV reported.

In a large ceremony held in the parliament, Sisi took the oath as president with the words: "I swear by God to protect the republican system, to respect the constitution and the law, to safeguard the people's interests, and to preserve the independence of the nation and the unity of lands."

"We managed to cross very difficult stage towards a future with more stability," the president said after taking the oath.

After focusing in his first term on the economic reforms, Sisi added he will give the priority in the coming four years to health and education issues.

"Leading a country like Egypt is really great and difficult," he added in his speech to the nation.

The president reiterated that "Egypt will carry on its efforts for promoting the international ties in light of partnerships."

Sisi won his second term with 97 percent of the vote in Egypt's 2018 presidential election.

His first oath was performed at the Supreme Constitutional Court in 2014.

The last presidential inauguration held at Egypt's parliament was in 2005, when ousted President Hosni Mubarak was sworn in as president for the fifth and last time.