---
node: anwar_sadat
type: person
slug: anwar_sadat
title: "Anwar Sadat"
lead: "Anwar Sadat (1918–1981), a Free Officer of the 1952 revolution, was president of Egypt from 1970. He launched the October War of 1973, then turned to peace with Israel through the Camp David Accords and the 1979 treaty, and was assassinated in 1981."
published: 2026-07-10
updated: 2026-07-10
---

## Who they were

Anwar Sadat (1918–1981) was a Free Officer of the 1952 revolution and vice-president under Nasser, becoming president in 1970. He consolidated power in 1971 by removing his Nasserist rivals — the so-called Corrective Revolution — and expelled the Soviet military advisers in 1972.

## What they did

On 6 October 1973 he launched the October War jointly with Syria: the crossing of the Suez Canal broke the Bar Lev line, and despite later reversals the war restored Egyptian confidence and forced superpower diplomacy. His economic opening (infitah) turned from Nasser's socialism toward private and foreign investment, with mixed results and bread riots in 1977. In November 1977 he flew to Jerusalem and addressed the Israeli parliament — the first Arab leader to do so — then signed the Camp David Accords in 1978, sharing the Nobel Peace Prize with Menachem Begin, and the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in 1979. Sinai was returned to Egypt by 1982, while Egypt was suspended from the Arab League until 1989.

## Legacy

He was assassinated on 6 October 1981 by Islamist soldiers during the parade marking the anniversary of the October War. Hosni Mubarak succeeded him as president.