Draft Republican Constitution Announced
Egypt published a draft republican constitution in January 1956, outlining a presidential system that would replace the provisional constitutional arrangements of the revolutionary period.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1956 in Egypt
Explore 236 historical events and records for Egypt in 1956.
Historical records for Egypt in 1956
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 236 unique records.
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January
Presidential Government Powers Defined
The proposed constitution described a strong presidency with extensive executive authority, placing Nasser at the centre of Egypt’s projected republican institutions.
February
Egypt Weighs Development Against Financing Conditions
Gamal Abdel Nasser faced difficult choices over the terms required by prospective Western lenders and Egypt's desire for economic autonomy.
March
Egyptian Syrian Cooperation Communique
Egypt and Syria issued a joint declaration in March supporting Arab defence and economic cooperation while rejecting participation in the Baghdad Pact.
Tripartite Arab Military Command Agreement
Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia announced a unified military command arrangement on 6 March as part of their efforts to coordinate regional defence.
April
Cairo Continues Aswan Funding Negotiations
Egyptian officials pursued international financing of the High Dam while asserting that the project was vital to national development.
Saudi Egyptian Yemeni Talks
Nasser joined Saudi and Yemeni leaders in April discussions that led to another Arab defence understanding focused on political and security cooperation.
May
Egypt Seeks Assurances of Project Sovereignty
Nasser's administration viewed control of Aswan financing as part of its wider effort to secure independent Egyptian development choices.
June
British Base Evacuation Completed
The withdrawal of the final British troops from the Suez Canal base in June completed the evacuation agreed under the 1954 Anglo Egyptian treaty.
Constitutional Referendum Held
Egypt held a nationwide referendum on 23 June to approve the new constitution, formalising the political structure of the postmonarchical republic.
New Republican Constitution Takes Effect
The adoption of the 1956 constitution established the legal basis of Nasser’s presidency and the institutions of the Egyptian republic.
Presidential Candidacy Ratified
Voters endorsed Nasser as president in a referendum conducted alongside the constitutional vote, confirming his formal assumption of the presidency.
Presidential Term Begins
Nasser formally began his presidential term in June 1956 after the national referendum, having already governed as Egypt’s leading revolutionary figure.
British Withdrawal Marked Publicly
The Egyptian government commemorated the end of Britain’s military presence in the Canal Zone, treating the evacuation as a landmark in the recovery of sovereignty.
July
Egypt Awaits Final Western Financing Decision
Egypt still sought the promised funding framework while diplomatic relations with major Western governments worsened.
Aswan Financing Dispute Precedes Canal Decision
Gamal Abdel Nasser's government faced the withdrawal of Western support for the Aswan High Dam, a development that shaped the political setting of canal nationalization.
High Dam Western Funding Withdrawn
The United States withdrew its offer to help finance the Aswan High Dam on 19 July; British participation also fell away, prompting a major political and financial crisis.
Nasser Confronts Sudden Funding Gap
The withdrawal of Western support left the Egyptian president needing an alternative means of financing his major development project.
Egyptian Leadership Considers Canal Revenue Alternative
Egypt's government looked to the revenue of the Suez Canal Company as a possible source of funding after the collapse of Western dam assistance.
Nationalisation Operation Briefing
Younis briefed technical and administrative personnel on their assignments, preparing a coordinated assumption of the company’s principal offices.
Secret Canal Takeover Team Assembled
Mahmoud Younis organised a small team of Egyptian specialists to carry out the canal company takeover in secrecy before Nasser’s public announcement.
Alexandria Nationalisation Address
In an address at Alexandria on 26 July, Nasser publicly announced that the Suez Canal Company was being nationalised and connected the move to Egypt’s independence.
Alexandria Speech Announces Egyptian Canal Ownership
Gamal Abdel Nasser announced during a public speech in Alexandria that the Suez Canal Company would be nationalized by presidential decree.
Autonomous Canal Authority Created
The nationalisation law established an autonomous Egyptian authority under the Ministry of Commerce to operate the canal in place of the former company.
Canal Administration Handover Organised
Younis coordinated the transition from foreign company management to Egyptian control, assigning officials to essential administrative and operational functions.
Canal Company Financial Assets Frozen
The nationalisation decree froze company assets in Egypt and abroad and prohibited unauthorised payments or transfers while Egyptian officials assumed control.
Canal Company Headquarters Occupied
On the day of nationalisation, Egyptian teams under Younis took control of key Suez Canal Company offices to transfer administration without interrupting navigation.
Canal Employees Ordered to Remain at Work
Gamal Abdel Nasser's nationalization decree required company employees to continue their duties unless authorized to leave by the new administration.
Canal Income Earmarked for Dam
Nasser presented nationalized Suez Canal Company revenue as a potential financing source for construction of the High Dam.
Canal Nationalization Triggers International Conference Planning
Gamal Abdel Nasser announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal Company, prompting Britain and France to seek talks with other canal users.
Canal Revenue Linked to Aswan Dam Funding
Gamal Abdel Nasser presented canal receipts as a potential source of financing for the Aswan High Dam after outside backing collapsed.
Canal Revenues Assigned to Development
Nasser declared that profits from the nationalised canal company would help finance the High Dam, presenting the takeover as an economic development measure.
Canal Shareholder Compensation Formula
The nationalisation decree provided for compensation of company shareholders according to the previous closing share price on the Paris stock exchange.
Canal Workforce Retention Ordered
The decree required company employees to remain in their posts unless released by the Egyptian authority, aiming to prevent disruption of shipping services.
Company Funds Subjected to State Controls
Gamal Abdel Nasser's decree restricted dealings in company funds and assets while the government established control over its property.
Company Property Transfers to State
The decree vested the nationalised company’s property and liabilities in the Egyptian state, changing ownership of the operating enterprise rather than the waterway itself.
Company Records Secured
Younis’s takeover teams took charge of administrative documents and operating records needed to maintain continuity after the company changed hands.
Egypt Establishes Autonomous Canal Management Authority
Gamal Abdel Nasser's decree provided for an independent Egyptian agency attached to the Ministry of Commerce to run the canal.
Existing Canal Company Governing Bodies Dissolved
Gamal Abdel Nasser dissolved the company's previous governing organizations as Egypt asserted direct authority over the waterway's administration.
Former Company Committees Dissolved
Under the nationalisation decree, the Suez Canal Company’s existing management committees were dissolved and replaced by a new Egyptian administrative structure.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.