Main points

• The Egyptian military has vast economic power and political influence in the country. Comprehensive reforms are needed to enhance transparency, reduce the military’s economic dominance, and foster a more competitive and inclusive economic environment.
• Understanding the role of wasta (connections) is key to understanding who trades in influence and the importance of social connections operating in Egypt.
• The current legislation stifles civil society efforts and threatens dissidence with arbitrary detention, rogue charges and unfair treatment.
• Egypt is considered to be one of the worst countries for journalists, given the level of repression and limitation of freedom of press and speech.
• The privatisation, precarity and informality of the education sectors allow for financial and non-financial corruption risks at the macro, meso and micro levels.