Tuesday saw the inauguration of Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for a third term in the nation’s new capital at one of the biggest of the mega-projects that have come to represent his administration.

Speaking at the recently constructed parliament building, Sisi outlined the difficulties Egypt had faced recently and pledged to continue the country’s progress, which many Egyptians claim they are left out of.

“The past few years have shown that the path of nation-building is not paved with roses … between terrorist attempts at home, sudden global crises abroad, fierce wars around us,” Sisi told lawmakers and religious, government, and military officials.

During his speech, Sisi pledged to augment funding for initiatives aimed at the impoverished and involve the corporate sector, adhering to the pledges that facilitated the completion of the enlarged $8 billion agreement with the IMF last month.

In an election held in December of last year, Sisi easily won with 89.6% of the vote and no real opposition. His message of security and stability struck a chord with some voters as the conflict raged in Gaza’s neighbouring country. Still, many others, consumed by their financial struggles, showed no interest in the election and said the outcome was inevitable.

“You carry a heavy load!” shouted one attendee during the ceremony, while another interjected, “If God is with you, then no one can be against you!”

After constitutional modifications that increased the duration of presidential terms to six years and gave Sisi the ability to run for office a third time, his term as president ends in 2030.

Egypt has undergone an infrastructure boom led by the military since Sisi took office in 2014. He claims this is necessary for economic growth and to accommodate the country’s population, which has increased by 6 million since it reached 100 million four years ago.

The largest of the mega projects, which also include building a significant number of new roads, expanding the Suez Canal, and creating other new towns, is the $58 billion New Administrative Capital, which is located in the desert east of Cairo.

Opponents claim that these projects raise Egypt’s debt load and take funds away from other pressing requirements, which is what is causing the country’s economic problems.