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"I announce to you in the honesty and transparency which we are used to... my candidacy for the post of president of the republic," Sisi said at a conference in Cairo, broadcast live on state television.
Sisi is widely expected win in the first round, which is to be held March 26-28.
Campaigning begins on February 24 and will last until March 23.
Egypt's former army chief, Sisi was elected in 2014, a year after leading the military to oust his predecessor Mohamed Morsi amid mass protests against the Islamist's year-long rule.