Africa Business Radio

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced the lifting of the state of emergency in place since deadly jihadist attacks on Coptic Christian churches more than four years ago.The North African country has been under a state of emergency since April 2017 bombings of two Coptic churches by an Islamic State group affiliate that killed more than 40 people.Sisi says Egypt has become, thanks to its great people and its loyal men, an oasis of security and stability in the region.Under a state of emergency, police powers such as arresting and holding citizens are extended and constitutional rights such as freedom of speech and assembly are curtailed.