Egypt opens monumental military base fit for a pharaoh

Among other things, the base includes a mosque, two farms and its own solar power plant.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

JULY 25, 2017 12:52

Updated: JULY 25, 2017 14:35

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C) arrives at the opening of the Mohamed Najib military base (photo credit: COURTESY OF THE EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY) — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C) arrives at the opening of the Mohamed Najib military base

(photo credit: COURTESY OF THE EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY)

Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi inaugurated on Saturday the "Mohammed Naguib" military base. The date also marked the anniversary weekend of the 1952 uprising in which King Farouk was overthrown, reported the Egypt Independent.

The official ceremony included Egyptian troops displaying various acrobatic feats including jumping through blazing hoops and rope climbing.

The ceremony of establishing the Mohammed Najib military base in northwest #Egypt pic.twitter.com/7wa4td09yJ
— Ѕ Ⓜ E H (@samehabouelkhie) July 22, 2017

Named after the first Egyptian president after the 1952 uprising, the base replaces the military city of 'El-Hamam.' According to the Egyptian news source Egypt Today, the base is also responsible for the security of the 'Dabaa" nuclear station.

The Al Arabiya news site reported that al-Sisi stressed in his speech that the participation of other Arab leaders is a sign of 'Arab unity.'

The non-Egyptian dignitaries who attended included Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Bahrain Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prince Khalid Al Faisal who is the Emir of Mecca and Kuwaiti Minister of Defense Sheikh

Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and National Libyan Army commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, reported Al Arabiya.

Hailed in the Egyptian media as the largest military base in Africa and the Middle East, construction took two years of work by the Engineering Corps of the Armed Forces. The base includes 1,155 buildings and facilities, 72 km of roads (236,220 feet), officers residence, shooting ranges, and 50 solar modules.