BBC News Middle East

AFPCopyright: AFP

Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has said that the country needs to slow its birth rate to avoid a catastrophe.

He said that Egypt had to lower its annual births to 400,000 from the current more than two million for the country to efficiently provide jobs and social services to its citizens.

Mr al-Sisi also faulted remarks by Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egypt’s health and population minister, that “having children is a matter of complete freedom”.

"Leaving their freedom to people who potentially do not know the extent of the challenge? In the end, it is the whole of society and the Egyptian state which will pay the price," said Mr al-Sisi, who was speaking at the first Global Congress on Population, Health and Development

"We must organise this freedom otherwise it will create a catastrophe," he added.

He hinted that Egypt could emulate China’s one-child policy, since China “succeeded in their population control policy”.

Since 2000, the population of Egypt, one of Africa’s most-populous countries, has grown by 40 million to reach 105 million people, according to Mr Abdel Ghaffar.

Mr Sisi also said that other African countries should adopt population control measures as the continent lacks enough resources for its surging population.

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Tunisian police have arrested the top two officials in the main opposition party, the party says.

They include the interim head of Ennahda, Mondher Ounissi.

His detention is said to be linked to audio messages in which he purportedly accuses party colleagues of receiving illegal funds.

Mr Ounissi says the recordings are fabricated.

The Tunisian authorities have detained a series of opposition figures this year.

President Kais Saied has ruled by decree since 2021, when he sacked parliament and dissolved the government.

His critics accuse him of carrying out a coup.