An Egyptian referendum has overwhelming given new muscle to strongman President Abdelfattah El Sisi.

It has endorsed a law allowing the former military commander, who came to power in  a 2014 coup, to stay at the helm until 2030.

The referendum was a popularity test for Abdelfattah el Sisi who is now firmly entrenched as another dictatorial  Egyptian leader.

His compatriots voted by 89 percent to 11 to extend his term in office and give him sweeping new powers over parliament and the judiciary.

The turnout in three days of voting that ended last Monday was 44 percent.

Opposition and human rights groups say El Sisi’s regime is more oppressive than that of Hosni Mubarak who unseated by the 2011 Arab Spring.

And they fear things will only get worse. 

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