Egypt: Information on military service
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1991 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | EGY8610 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Egypt: Information on military service, 1 May 1991, EGY8610, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aba44c.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A representative of the Embassy of Egypt in Ottawa declined to
provide detailed information on military service in Egypt (Embassy
of Egypt 14 May 1991). However, the representative states that
there is universal military service for the entire male population
(Ibid.). The representative maintains that certain people are
exempted from military service, e.g., students for the duration of
their studies and Egyptians with multiple nationality (Ibid.).
A representative of the Arab League in Ottawa states that
there is universal military service for the Egyptian male
population (Arab League 14 May 1991). The representative holds
that the draft age is 18 years old. The duration of service, the
representative states, is 18 months for draftees with a university
degree and three years for other draftees. However, the source
adds that the Egyptian authorities may increase the duration of
military service under some circumstances such as war.
The same source states that certain conscripts are exempted
from military service (Arab League 14 May 1991). They include
draftees with physical or mental disabilities, the personnel of the
police department and the only son of a family; the sons of the
Egyptian military personnel who were killed during the 1973 war
with Israel may also be exempted. In addition, the source points
out that the younger son of a retired man whose older son is doing
his military service is exempted from military service so long as
his brother is at service.
According to the same source, draftees who have multiple
nationality or are 30 years old or over are exempted from military
service, but they have to pay a fine (Arab League 14 May 1991).
Finally, the source mentions that if the number of eligible
draftees exceeds the number of needed draftees in a given year, the
Egyptian authorities may exempt the excessive draftees by drawing
a lot among the draftees (Arab League 14 May 1991).
According to Conscientious Objection to Military Service,
there is universal conscription in Egypt (United Nations 1983, 20).
The source maintains that Egyptian military law does not provide
for conscientious objector status (Ibid., 23). It also states that
the Jewish population of Egypt is exempted from military service
(Ibid., 21).
World Defence Almanac maintains that the length of
conscription is 36 months (1990, 161).
Additional and/or corroborating information on the subject is
currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
Bibliography:
Arab League. Ottawa. 14 May 1991. Telephone interview with a
Representative.
Embassy of Egypt. Ottawa. 14 May 1991. Telephone interview with a
Representative.
United Nations. Conscientious Objection to Military Service.
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/1983/30/Rev.1) 1983.
World Defence Almanac, Vol. XVI, Issue 1. 1990. Germany: Mönch
Publishing Group.
