CAIRO: A man carries a copy of a newspaper bearing the portrait of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi during a press conference by the National Elections Authority to announce the official result of presidential election yesterday. - AFP

CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has secured a second term with 97 percent of valid votes, according to official results announced yesterday, at an election last week that saw him face no serious rivals. The head of the election authority Lasheen Ibrahim said at a press conference that turnout was 41.05 percent of the almost 60 million registered voters. He said 92.73 percent of the votes were valid from the roughly 24 million cast, while almost two million ballots were spoiled.

Sisi's sole rival and an erstwhile ardent supporter, Moussa Mostafa Moussa, won 2.92 percent of the valid votes, Ibrahim said. Moussa entered the election at the very last moment after first leading a re-election campaign for Sisi, saving the vote from having just one candidate. Sisi's serious contenders had withdrawn, been sidelined or detained. "These are momentous moments for this nation...which will be written in letters of light, under the title: Battle for the love of Egypt," Ibrahim said. "The entire world heard your chants for the love of Egypt," he said.

HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday cabled Sisi expressing congratulations on his re-election as president of the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt. The Amir voiced felicitations to President Sisi on his election to a second term in office, expressed good wishes in his service to the nation, lauded the distinguished and historic ties between the two countries and noted his aspiration to stronger bonds and greater cooperation in various realms. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables to Sisi.

Sisi, who as army chief ousted Egypt's first freely elected president Islamist Mohamed Morsi after mass street protests in 2013, won his first term in 2014 with 96.9 percent of valid votes. Turnout of 47 percent in that year's election was sharply higher than this year's 41 percent despite appeals from Prime Minister Sherif Ismail for voters to fulfill their patriotic duty. Nonetheless Sisi has already praised this year's turnout. "The vote by masses of Egypt will remain a testament, no doubt, that our nation's will imposes itself with strength and knows no weakness," Sisi said on his Twitter account late Wednesday.

People who boycotted the election and cannot show a good reason for missing the vote could face a fine of up to 500 Egyptian pounds, the electoral commission has warned. Opposition groups had called for a boycott of last week's vote which they labeled a facade. There were no presidential debates and Sisi himself did not appear at any official campaign events, although he spoke at a number of ceremonies.

In an interview days ahead of the vote, Sisi said he wished there were more candidates, denying any role in sidelining his rivals. He also sought to drive up voter turnout in a speech in the run-up to ballot as he urged Egyptians to back his bid for another four years in office. "I need you because the journey is not over," Sisi told a mostly female audience. "I need every lady and mother and sister, please, I need the entire world to see us" voting.

In a call to Sisi yesterday, US President Donald Trump expressed his "sincere congratulations" and said the United States was keen on strengthening strategic relations, according to Egyptian state news agency MENA. British foreign minister Boris Johnson appeared to strike a more cautious tone, writing on Twitter: "Look forward to working with President Sisi's government in his 2nd constitutional term. Egypt has an opportunity over next 4 years to build a prosperous & democratic society, building on rights set out in 2014 constitution".

Sisi's main Western and regional allies have been mostly silent over alleged human rights abuses in Egypt. The US State Department said it had noted "reports of constraints on freedoms of expression and association in the run-up to the elections" and "will continue to encourage a broadening of opportunities for political participation for Egyptians, and emphasize the importance of the protection of human rights and the vital role of civil society in Egypt." Russia congratulated Sisi on his election win ahead of the official results, and regional ally King Salman of Saudi Arabia called Sisi yesterday to express support, saying his victory came as a result of strong efforts to combat terrorism. - Agencies