Power Struggle: Army officer jailed 6 years for declaring his presidential ambitions

Colonel Ahmed Konsowa’s declaration was said to be in contravention of the military regulations banning political activism by active duty officers, but the conviction can be appealed at a higher court.

A military court in Egypt’s capital Cairo has jailed an army colonel to six months in prison after he reportedly declared his intentions to run against the Egyptian president in the country’s presidential election that is expected early next year.

The Associated Press reported one lawyer, Asaad Heikal to have said that the presidential hopeful, Colonel Ahmed Konsowa himself was present in the court when his sentence was announced.

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The 42-year-old military man’s conviction follows his announcement on December 2 that he would be running against incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

Colonel Ahmed Konsowa’s declaration was said to be in contravention of the military regulations banning political activism by active duty officers, but the conviction can be appealed at a higher court.

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Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi himself was an army general who became president in 2014, and there are indications that he would be contesting again, though he has not made any announcement to that effect.

Colonel Ahmed Konsowa’s declaration was said to be in contravention of the military regulations banning political activism by active duty officers, but the conviction can be appealed at a higher court. Read Full Story