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Egypt

 
     
    • Names: 
     
        conventional long form: 
        Arab Republic of Egypt 
     
        conventional short form: 
        Egypt 
     
        local long form: 
        Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah 
     
        local short form: 
        none 
     
        former: 
        United Arab Republic (with Syria) 
     
    • Digraph: 
      EG 
     
    • Type: 
      republic 
     
    • Capital: 
      Cairo 
     
    • Administrative divisions: 
      26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyu't, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina, Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina, Suhaj 
     
    • Independence: 
      28 February 1922 (from UK) 
     
    • National holiday: 
      Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952) 
     
    • Constitution: 
      11 September 1971 
     
    • Legal system: 
      based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 
     
    • Suffrage: 
      18 years of age; universal and compulsory 
     
    • Executive branch: 
     
        chief of state: 
        President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (sworn in as president on 14 October 1981, eight days after the assassination of President SADAT); national referendum held 4 October 1993 validated Mubarak's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third 6-year presidential term 
     
        head of government: 
        Prime Minister Atef Mohammed Najib SEDKY (since 12 November 1986) 
     
        cabinet: 
        Cabinet; appointed by the president 
     
    • Legislative branch: 
      bicameral 
       
    • Women's Share of Seats in Parliament:

      • 7% (1997 est.)
     
    • Judicial branch: 
      Supreme Constitutional Court 
     
    • Political parties and leaders: 
      National Democratic Party (NDP), President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader, is the dominant party; legal opposition parties are; New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN; Socialist Labor Party, Ibrahim SHUKRI; National Progressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid MUHYI-AL-DIN; Socialist Liberal Party (SLP), Mustafa Kamal MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party, Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr al-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party), Gamal RABIE; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party, Dia' al-din DAWUD; Democratic Peoples' Party, Anwar AFIFI; The Greens Party, Kamal KIRAH; Social Justice Party, Muhammad 'ABD-AL-'AL 
     
        note: 
        formation of political parties must be approved by government 
     
    • Other political or pressure groups: 
      despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more aggressively in the past year to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned 
     
    • Member of: 
      ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 
     
    • Diplomatic representation in US: 
     
        chief of mission: 
        Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED 
     
        chancery: 
        3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 
     
        telephone: 
        [1] (202) 895-5400 
     
        FAX: 
        [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131 
     
        consulate(s) general: 
        Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco 
     
    • US diplomatic representation: 
     
        chief of mission: 
        Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr. 
     
        embassy: 
        (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo 
     
        mailing address: 
        APO AE 09839-4900 
     
        telephone: 
        [20] (2) 3557371 
     
        FAX: 
        [20] (2) 3573200 
     
    • Flag: 
      three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band