Egypt is heading towards elections with only President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s name on the ballot after his last real challenger dropped out of the race on Wednesday night.

One by one political figures who have stepped forward to oppose Mr Sisi have been arrested or intimidated out of the race and on Wednesday the only candidate still standing, labour lawyer Khaled Ali, said he too was withdrawing.

"The people’s confidence in the possibility of turning the election into an opportunity for a new beginning is unfortunately over,” Mr Ali told his supporters.

“Today, we announce our decision that we will not run this race and we will not go forward with our nomination papers in a context where the purpose was exhausted before it began. ”

Mr Ali dropped out one day after the arrest of Sami Anan, a former senior army general who was seen as a potential heavyweight opponent for Mr Sisi.