Egypt will hold parliamentary elections in two phases, starting 18-19 October, according to a statement released by the country’s election commission.

The statement said the second phase of voting will take place on 22-23 November.

Egypt has been without a parliament since June 2012, when a court dissolved the elected main chamber at the time.

Elections were due to take place in March, but were delayed after a court ruled part of an election law was unconstitutional.

Since taking office in 2014, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has fast-tracked several laws surrounding investment and security.

More recently, Al-Sisi was criticised for the newly ratified anti-terrorism law. The new law stipulates heavy fines, and possible suspension from employment, for “false” reporting on attacks in Egypt.

Egypt continues to target foreign investment in order to galvanise its economy, but an ailing security situation has made it difficult for Cairo to deliver the stable investment environment it promised the international community during the Egypt Economic Development Conference in March.