Egypt’s former military chief-of-staff Sami Anan was released from detention on Sunday almost two years after his arrest following his plans to compete in the 2018 presidential election, his office manager said on Twitter.
Anan, whom the manager said was now at home, was held in a military prison until July 2018, when he suffered a stroke and was moved to a military hospital in Cairo’s Maadi suburb. He remained there until his release.
His health has improved, a source familiar with the matter said. The reason for his release is still unclear.
Anan, seen as the main challenger in that election to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, was arrested and halted his presidential bid after the military accused him of running for office without permission, which it said was a breach of military law. Anan’s spokesman denied that he had broken any laws.
President El Sisi was re-elected for a second term in 2018, winning 97 per cent of the vote with a turnout of 41 per cent. The election featured only one other candidate, an ardent El Sisi supporter, after opposition contenders halted their campaigns in January.
