Anwar Sadat

Egypt state institutions Nationalism 1918.12.25.–1981.10.6. ✕ Assassinated

Egyptian president who launched the October War of 1973, then left Nasserism for the Infitah and peace with Israel

Born to a poor family in the Nile Delta, Sadat graduated from the Royal Military Academy in 1938 and with Gamal Abdel Nasser formed the Free Officers. During the Second World War he was imprisoned after meeting German agents. He was twice vice president under Nasser and became president on Nasser's death in 1970. On 6 October 1973, together with Syria, he launched a surprise attack on Israel to regain the Sinai (the Yom Kippur War). Departing from Nasserism, he then reinstituted a multi-party system, launched the Infitah economic opening, and signed the Camp David Accords and the peace treaty with Israel. He was assassinated by militants led by Khalid al-Islambuli during the military parade of 6 October 1981.

Also known as: Anwar al-Sadat · Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat