Egyptian opposition leaders have called for a boycott of the country’s elections after all real candidates trying to stand against President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi were arrested, prosecuted or intimidated out of the race.

In a joint statement, a coalition of opposition figures said that Egyptians should stay away from the polls in protest because the government had prevented “any fair competition in the upcoming elections”.

“We call on our great people to boycott these elections entirely, and to not recognise anything that results from it,” the statement said.

Mr Sisi, a former general who took first came to power in a 2013 coup, has clamped down on dissent in Egypt and looks certain to be re-elected. Several would-be opposition candidates have been arrested or frightened from the race in the last few weeks.

But Mr Sisi and his allies are also worried about a low turnout in the March elections and fear that a widespread boycott could lead to embarrassingly few votes being cast.