Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

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General
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
عبد الفتاح السيسى
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in 2017.jpg
6th President of Egypt
Assumed office
8 June 2014
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab
Sherif Ismail
Moustafa Madbouly
Preceded by Mohamed Morsi
Deputy Prime Minister of Egypt
In office
16 July 2013 – 26 March 2014
Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi
Ibrahim Mahlab
Minister of Defence
In office
12 August 2012 – 26 March 2014
Prime Minister Hesham Qandil
Hazem al-Beblawi
Ibrahim Mahlab
Preceded by Mohamed Hussein Tantawi
Succeeded by Sedki Sobhi
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
In office
12 August 2012 – 26 March 2014
Preceded by Mohamed Hussein Tantawi
Succeeded by Sedki Sobhi
Director of Military Intelligence
In office
3 January 2010 – 12 August 2012
Preceded by Murad Muwafi
Succeeded by Mahmoud Hegazy
Personal details
Born Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi
(1954-11-19) 19 November 1954 (age 63)
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Political party Independent
Spouse(s) Entissar Amer (m. 1977)
Children Mustafa
Mahmoud
Hassan
Aya
Alma mater Egyptian Military Academy
Signature
Military service
Allegiance  Egypt
Service/branch  Egyptian Army
Years of service 1977–2014
Rank EgyField Marshal.png Field Marshal (retired)
Unit Infantry
Battles/wars Gulf War
Sinai insurgency

Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi (Arabic: عبد الفتاح سعيد حسين خليل السيسي‎ 'Abde'l-Fattāḥ Sa'īd Ḥesayn Khalīl es-Sīsī, IPA: [ʕæbdəl.fətˈtæːħ sæˈʕiːd ħeˈseːn xæˈliːl əsˈsiːsi]; born 19 November 1954) is the sixth and incumbent President of Egypt, in office since 2014.

Field Marshal Sisi was born in Cairo and after joining the military, held a post in Saudi Arabia before enrolling in the Egyptian Army's Command and Staff College. In 1992, Sisi trained at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Watchfield, Oxfordshire, in the United Kingdom, and then in 2006 trained at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Sisi served as a mechanized infantry commander and then as director of military intelligence, after the Egyptian revolution of 2011 and election of Mohamed Morsi to the Egyptian presidency, Sisi was appointed Minister of Defence by Morsi on 12 August 2012, replacing the Mubarak-era Hussein Tantawi.

As Minister of Defence, and ultimately Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Sisi was involved in the military coup that removed Morsi from office on July 3, 2013, in response to June 2013 Egyptian protests, called a revolution by its proponents. He dissolved the Egyptian Constitution of 2012 and proposed, along with leading opposition and religious figures, a new political road map, which included the voting for a new constitution, and new parliamentary and presidential elections. Morsi was replaced by an interim president, Adly Mansour, who appointed a new cabinet, the interim government cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist supporters in the months that followed, and later on certain liberal opponents of the post-Morsi administration. On 14 August 2013, police carried out the August 2013 Rabaa massacre, killing hundreds of civilians and wounding thousands, leading to international criticism.[1]

On 26 March 2014, in response to calls from supporters to run for presidency, Sisi retired from his military career, announcing that he would run as a candidate in the 2014 presidential election,[2] the election, held between 26 and 28 May, featured one sole opponent, Hamdeen Sabahi,[3] saw 47% participation by eligible voters, and resulted in Sisi winning in a landslide victory with more than 97% of the vote.[3][4][5] Sisi was sworn into office as President of Egypt on 8 June 2014. Sisi's government has given the Egyptian military unchecked power,[6] and many[who?] have labeled him a dictator and a strongman, comparing him to Egypt's former dictators.[6][7]

In the 2018 presidential election, Sisi faced only nominal opposition (a pro-regime supporter, Moussa Mostafa Moussa) after the military arrest of Sami Anan and his enforced disappearance afterwards,[8][9][10] threats made to Ahmed Shafik with old corruption charges and sex tape,[11][12][13] and the withdrawal of Khaled Ali and Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat due to the overwhelming obstacles and violations made by the elections committee.[14][15][16]

Early life and military education[edit]

Sisi was born in Old Cairo on 19 November 1954,[17] to parents Said Hussein Khalili al-Sisi and Soad Mohamed,[18] he grew up in Gamaleya, near al-Azhar Mosque, in a quarter where Muslims, Jews and Christians resided and in which he later recalled how, during his childhood, he heard church bells and watched Jews flock to the synagogue unhindered. Sisi would later enroll in the Egyptian Military Academy, and upon graduating he held various command positions in the Egyptian Armed Forces and served as Egypt's military attaché in Riyadh. In 1987 he attended the Egyptian Command and Staff College; in 1992 he continued his military career by enrolling in the British Command and Staff College, and in 2006 enrolled in the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.[19] Sisi was the youngest member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, serving as the director of military intelligence and reconnaissance department. He was later chosen to replace Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and serve as the commander-in-chief and Minister of Defence and Military Production on 12 August 2012.

Sisi's family originated from Monufia Governorate, he is the second of eight siblings (his father later had six additional children with a second wife). His father, a conservative but not radical Muslim,[20] had a wooden antiques shop for tourists in the historic bazaar of Khan el-Khalili.[21]

He and his siblings studied at the nearby library at al-Azhar University. Unlike his brothers – one of whom is a senior judge, another a civil servant – el-Sisi went to a local army-run secondary school, where concurrently his relationship with his maternal cousin Entissar Amer started to develop, they were married upon Sisi's graduation from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1977.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28] He attended the following courses:

Military career, 1977–2014[edit]

El-Sisi received his commission as a military officer in 1977 serving in the mechanised infantry, specialising in anti-tank warfare and mortar warfare. He became Commander of the Northern Military Region-Alexandria in 2008 and then Director of Military Intelligence and Reconnaissance. El-Sisi was the youngest member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt. While a member of the Supreme Council, he made controversial statements regarding allegations that Egyptian soldiers had subjected detained female demonstrators to forced virginity tests, he is reported to have told Egypt's state-owned newspaper that "the virginity-test procedure was done to protect the girls from rape as well as to protect the soldiers and officers from rape accusations."[17] He was the first member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to admit that the invasive tests had been carried out.[30]

US-Egypt Bright Star exercise in 2009. Sisi was sitting on the left back seat.

Main command positions[edit]

  • Commander, 509th Mechanized Infantry Battalion[29]
  • Chief of Staff, 134th Mechanized Infantry Brigade[29]
  • Commander, 16th Mechanized Infantry Brigade[29]
  • Chief of Staff, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division[29]
  • Chief of Staff, Northern Military Zone[29]
  • Deputy Director, Military Intelligence and Reconnaissance Department[29]
  • Director, Military Intelligence and Reconnaissance Department[29]

Also reported is commander of the 23rd Mechanized Division, Third Field Army.

Minister of Defense[edit]

Field Marshal Sisi as Minister of Defence, 2014

On 12 August 2012, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi made a decision to replace the Mubarak-era Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the Egyptian Armed Forces, with then little-known el-Sisi. He also promoted him to the rank of colonel general.[31] Sisi was then described by the official website of FJP as a "Defense minister with revolutionary taste".[32] El-Sisi also took the post of Minister of Defense and Military Production in the Qandil Cabinet.

US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Egyptian Defense Minister el-Sisi in Cairo, 3 March 2013

After el-Sisi was appointed as minister of defence on 12 August 2012, there were concerns in Egypt regarding rumours that General el-Sisi was the hand of the Muslim Brotherhood in the army, though el-Sisi has always declared that the Egyptian army stands on the side of the Egyptian people, on 28 April 2013, during celebrations for Sinai Liberation Day, el-Sisi said that "the hand that harms any Egyptian must be cut".[33] This statement was taken by Morsi opponents as a clarification that the Army is in support of them. However, the statement was interpreted by Morsi supporters as a warning to Morsi opponents that el-Sisi would not allow an overthrow of the government, he remained in office under the new government formed after the deposition of Morsi, and led by Hazem al-Beblawi. He was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Egypt, on 27 January 2014, he was promoted to the rank of field marshal.[34]

Civil uprising, coup d'état and transition[edit]

Main articles: June 2013 Egyptian protests and 2013 Egyptian coup d'état

Mass demonstrations occurred on June 30 as tens of millions of Egyptians took to the streets to denounce Mohamed Morsi. Clashes took place around Egypt. Soon afterwards, the Egyptian Army issued a 48-hour ultimatum which aired on television that gave the country's political parties until 3 July to meet the demands of the anti-Morsi demonstrators, the Egyptian military also threatened to intervene if the dispute was not resolved by then.[35]

On 3 July 2013, the Egyptian Armed Forces declared that as the political parties had failed to meet the deadline and Morsi had failed to build a national consensus for his leadership, the army had to overthrow Morsi in a coup d'état, the army then installed Adly Mansour as the interim head of state in his place until a new president could be elected, and ordered the arrest of many members of the Muslim Brotherhood on charges of "inciting violence and disturbing general security and peace."[36] El-Sisi announced on television that the president had "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people" and declared that the constitution would be temporarily suspended, which was met by acceptance from anti-Morsi demonstrations and condemnation from pro-Morsi supporters in Rabaa al-Adawiya.

On 24 July 2013, during a speech at a military parade, el-Sisi called for mass demonstrations to grant the Egyptian military and police a "mandate" to crack down on terrorism.[37] While supporters interpreted this to mean that el-Sisi felt the need of the people to prove to the world that it was not a coup but the popular will, the statement was seen by opponents as contradicting the military's pledges to hand over power to civilians after removing Morsi and as indicating an imminent crackdown against Islamists.[38][39]

The reactions to el-Sisi's announcement ranged from open support from the Egyptian presidency[40] and the Tamarod movement[41] to rejection, not only by the Muslim Brotherhood,[38] but also by the Salafi Nour Party,[42] the Islamist Strong Egypt Party,[43] the liberal April 6 Youth Movement[44] and some Egyptian human rights groups.[45]

During the August 2013 Cairo sit-ins dispersal, the Egyptian military under el-Sisi's command was involved in assisting the national police in dispersing two sit-ins held by Muslim Brotherhood/Morsi supporters from sit-ins in Rabaa el-Adaweya and Nahda squares. This action resulted in rapidly escalating violence that eventually led to deaths of 638 people, of whom 595 were peaceful protestors with at least 3,994 injured (according to the Ministry of Health) in addition to several violent incidents in various cities including Minya and Kerdasa.[46][47] Writing for the now-defunct British newspaper The Independent in August 2013, Robert Fisk described then-General el-Sisi as being at a loss, but that a massacre - as Fisk called the sit-in dispersal - would go down in history as an infamy.[48] Writing for the American magazine Time, Lee Smith concluded that "Egypt's new leader is unfit to rule", referring not to the actual head of government at the time, interim president Adly Mansour, but to Sisi;[49] in a file published by the State Information Services, the government explained the raids by stating that "police went on to use force dispersing the sit-in on 14 August 2013 with the least possible damage, causing hundreds of civilians and police to fall as victims, while Muslim Brotherhood supporters imposed a blockade for 46 days against the people in al-Nahda and Rabaa al-Adawiya squares under the name of sit-in where tens of protesters took to the street daily hindered the lives of the Egyptians, causing unrest and the death or injury of many victims as well as damage to public and private properties".[50]

On 3 August 2013, el-Sisi gave his first interview since the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi. Speaking to The Washington Post, he criticised the US response and accused the Obama administration of disregarding the Egyptian popular will and of providing insufficient support amid threats of a civil war, saying, "You left the Egyptians. You turned your back on the Egyptians, and they won't forget that."[51]

On the 6 October war anniversary in 2013, el-Sisi announced that the army was committed to the popular mandate of 26 July 2013: "We are committed, in front of God, to the Egyptian and Arab people that we will protect Egypt, the Egyptians and their free will."[52]

During the anniversary celebration that year, General el-Sisi invited the Emirati, Iraqi, Bahraini, Moroccan and Jordanian defence ministers to celebrate with Egypt. During his speech he said in a warning way that the Egyptian people "will never forget who stood with them or against them". El-Sisi described 6 October as "a day to celebrate for all Arabs", hoping for the "unification of Arabs", he also thanked "Egypt's Arab brothers, who stood by its side." El-Sisi commented on the relationship between the Egyptian army and Egyptian people, saying that it is hard to break. El-Sisi said: "We would die before you [the Egyptian people] would feel pain", he also compared the Egyptian army to the Pyramid, saying that "it cannot be broken".[52]

Civil liberties[edit]

Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated pro-Morsi protesters holding the Rabia sign in a protest in October 2013; the sign and associated gesture originated shortly after the sit-in dispersal

After Sisi had ousted president Morsi and disbanded the Shura Council, in September 2013 interim president Adly Mansour temporarily decreed that ministers could award contracts without tender process; in the next month, the government awarded building contracts worth approximately one billion dollars to the Egyptian Army.[53] In April 2014, the interim government's Investment Law banned appeals against government contracts.

Also in September 2013, the interim government removed detention limits without trial for certain crimes, allowing certain unconvicted political dissidents to remain in detention indefinitely; in November 2013, el-Sisi's government banned protests in an attempt to combat the growing pro-Brotherhood unrest; the police arrested thousands of Egyptians using the new law.[53]

On 24 March 2014, an Egyptian court sentenced 529 members of the Muslim Brotherhood to death,[54] following an attack on a police station in 2013, an act described by Amnesty International as "the largest single batch of simultaneous death sentences we've seen in recent years […] anywhere in the world".[55] The BBC reported that by May 2016, approximately 40,000 people, mostly Brotherhood members or loyalists, have been imprisoned since Morsi's overthrow.[56]

Cult of personality[edit]

The anti-Morsi demonstrators on the streets welcomed el-Sisi's announcement of the overthrow of Morsi with celebrations and carried posters of el-Sisi, chanting "The Army and the People are one hand" and supporting General el-Sisi, on social networks, thousands of Egyptians changed their profile pictures to pictures of el-Sisi, while others started campaigns requesting that El-Sisi be promoted to the rank of field marshal, while others hoped he would be nominated in the next presidential elections.[57]

Cupcakes, chocolate and necklaces bearing the "CC" initials were created, restaurants in Egypt named sandwiches after him, blogs shared his pictures, and columns, op-eds, television shows and interviews discussed the "new idol of the Nile valley" in the Egyptian mainstream media.[58][59][60][61] On 6 December 2013, el-Sisi was named "Time Person of the Year" in Time magazine's annual reader poll.[62] The accompanying article noted "Sisi's success reflected the genuine popularity of a man who led what was essentially a military coup in July against the democratically elected government of then President Mohammed Morsi."[63]

The "Kamel Gemilak" (Finish Your Favor) and "El-Sisi for President" campaigns were started to gather signatures to press el-Sisi, who had said he had no desire to govern, to run for presidency.[64] Many politicians and parties including Egyptians and non-Egyptians had announced their support for el-Sisi in the event of his running for president, including the National Salvation Front,[65] Tamarod,[66] Amr Moussa, a previous candidate for the presidency,[67] Abdel-Hakim Abdel-Nasser son of late President Gamal Abdel Nasser,[64] unsuccessful presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik,[68] Prime Minister Hazem Al Beblawi,[69] Naguib Sawiris,[70] the Free Egyptians Party, the Revolutionary Forces Bloc,[71] and the Russian president Vladimir Putin.[72] However, Hamdeen Sabahi ran against him in the presidential race.[73] Subsequently, Sabahi issued criticisms of Sisi and his candidacy by expressing doubt about Sisi's commitment to democracy, arguing that the general bears a measure of direct and indirect responsibility for the human rights violations carried out during the period of the interim government, he also denounced what he deemed to be the transitional government's hostility toward the goals of the revolution.[74][75][76]

Kamel Gemilak states to have collected 26 million signatures asking Sisi to run for president,[77] on 21 January 2014, Kamel Gemilak organised a mass conference call in Cairo International Stadium to call on el-Sisi to run for president.[78] On 6 February 2014, the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Seyassah claimed that el-Sisi would run for president, saying that he had to meet the wishes of the Egyptian people for him to run.[79][80] El-Sisi confirmed on 26 March 2014 that he would run for president in the presidential election.[2] Shortly after his announcement, popular hashtags were started for and against el-Sisi's presidential bid,[81][82] the presidential election, which took place between 26 and 28 May 2014, saw el-Sisi win 96 percent of votes counted;[4] it was held without the participation of the controversial Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom & Justice Party, which had won every prior post-Mubarak electoral contest.

Presidency (2014–present)[edit]

President Sisi was sworn into office on 8 June 2014, the event was marked by an impromptu public holiday in Egypt in conjunction with festivals held nationwide.[83] Tahrir Square was prepared to receive millions of Egyptians celebrating Sisi's win; police and soldiers shut down the square outlets with barbed wires and barricades, as well as electronic portals for detecting any explosives that could spoil the festivities.[84] Sisi's oath of office was administered in the morning in Egypt's Supreme constitutional court in front of the deputy head of the constitutional court, Maher Sami, who described el-Sisi as a "rebel soldier" and a "revolutionary hero"; ex-president Adly Mansour; other constitutional court members; and a group of Egypt's top politicians. Sisi later moved to the Heliopolis Palace, where a 21-gun salute welcomed the new president, before the ex-president received Sisi near the palace's stairway. Sisi then presided over a reception for the foreign presidents, emirs, kings, and official delegations who had been invited. Turkey, Tunisia and Qatar were not invited because of their governments' critical stances regarding then-recent events in Egypt.[85] Israel was also not invited. Sisi later gave a speech in front of the attendees and, for the first time in Egyptian history, signed the handover of power document with ex-president Adly Mansour, after the ceremony at Heliopolis Palace, Sisi moved to Koubbeh Palace, where the final ceremony was held and where Sisi gave the final speech of the day in front of 1,200 attendees representing different spectra of the Egyptian people and the provinces of Egypt. In the speech, he presented the problems facing Egypt and his plan, saying "In its next phase, Egypt will witness a total rise on both internal and external fronts, to compensate what we have missed and correct the mistakes of the past". Sisi also issued the first Presidential decree, giving ex-president Adly Mansour the Order of the Nile.[86]

Domestic policy[edit]

Further information: Human rights in Egypt

President Sisi, who repeatedly during his presidential campaign encouraged Egyptians to work harder and to wake up at 5am, urged Egyptians to be ready for what he called "the hard work phase"; in his first meeting with his cabinet, Sisi told his ministers they must set an example by being in the office by 07:00.[87] Sisi's first street appearance after the cabinet was sworn in saw him participate in a surprising 20-kilometer bike marathon wearing sporting gear and followed by his cabinet ministers as well as many celebrities, military and police students to encourage low consumption of fuel which is costing the government billions of dollars every year.[88] Sisi encouraged Egyptians to help rebuild the Egyptian economy saying that he would make an example by donating half his salary and half his personal assets (including his inheritance) to support the Egyptian economy; a move that would encourage senior officials and prominent businessmen to do the same.[88] After his call, Colonel General Sedki Sobhi announced that the Egyptian Armed Forces would help support the economy by donating $140m (£82m).[88] Sisi also ordered the ministry of finance to enforce rules on maximum wages estimated at 42,000 EGP ($5,873) per month.[87] Sisi also formed the advisory council of Egypt's scientists and experts to advise him on national projects.

Sisi has expressed his personal concerns about the issue of sexual assault in the country, he was photographed during a hospital visit to a woman receiving treatment after an assault during celebrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square, ordering the army, the police, and the media to counter the issue.[88]

El-Sisi has called for the reform and modernisation of Islam;[89] to that end, he has taken measures within Egypt such as regulating mosque sermons and changing school textbooks (including the removal of some content on Saladin and Uqba ibn Nafi inciting or glorifying hatred and violence).[90][91] He has also called for an end to the Islamic verbal divorce; however, this was rejected by a council of scholars from Al-Azhar University.[92]

El-Sisi also became the first Egyptian president in the country's history to attend Christmas Mass[93] and gave a speech at the Coptic Orthodox Christmas service in Cairo in January 2015 calling for unity and wishing the Christians a merry Christmas.[93][94] Coinciding with Sisi's visit an Arabic hashtag that translates to "you are a leader, Sisi" has been tweeted 14,486 times, and the hashtag "Sisi in the Cathedral" has been tweeted 3,609 times accompanied with pictures of a cross and a crescent symbolising the national unity.[95]

Human rights policy[edit]

Protesters outside 10 Downing Street against UK visit of President Sisi in November 2015

According to the Human Rights Watch, Sisi's regime used torture and enforced disappearances against his political opponents and criminal suspects. Extrajudicial killings were committed by the military in its campaign against Wilayah Sayna, an ISIS affiliate in North Sinai; in addition to prosecutions, travel bans and asset freezes against human rights defenders, and repressive new legislations that threaten to kill the independent civil society.[96]

Economic reforms[edit]

al-Sisi Listens as Secretary Kerry Addresses Audience of Several Thousand Attending the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC)

Sisi, who is reportedly facing a severe economic ordeal in Egypt, has decided to raise fuel prices by 78 percent as an introduction to cut the subsidies on basic food stuffs and energy, which eat up nearly a quarter of the state budget, the Egyptian government has always provided these subsidies as a crucial aid to millions of people who live in poverty, fearing people's anger in five years time.[97] Egypt has spent $96 billion on energy subsidies in a decade which made petrol in Egypt among the world's cheapest.[97] Cutting the energy subsidies will save 51 billion pounds, the government hopes the decision will benefit services such as health and education. Sisi also raised taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, applying a flat tax on local and imported cigarettes to between 25 and 40 cents per pack, as well as new property taxes, and plans to introduce a new scheme for value-added taxes.[98] Chicken prices would reportedly rise by 25 percent days after the decision because of added transportation costs. Mini-bus and taxi fares were raised by about 13 percent.[97] Slashing subsidies was recommended by international financial institutions, but no Egyptian leader had managed to broach the issue, fearing unrest in a country where nearly 50 percent of the population live in poverty and rely on government aid. President Sisi defended the decision to raise fuel prices, saying it was "bitter medicine" that should have been taken before and was "50 years late" but was not taken, as governments feared a backlash like the Bread Riots of 1977.[99] Sisi, who had previously accepted only half of his own pay, called on Egyptians to make sacrifices, vowing to repair an economy growing at the slowest pace in two decades. Sisi warned Egyptians of more pain over the next two years from economic problems that he said had accumulated over the last four decades and needed to be fixed.[100] Egypt also paid more than $6 billion it owed to foreign oil companies within two months.[101] By March 2015 after 8 months of Sisi's rule, Egypt's external debt fell to $39.9 billion, a drop of 13.5 percent.[102]

As a result of the economic reforms, Moody's raised Egypt's credit ratings outlook to stable from negative[103] and Fitch Ratings upgraded Egypt's credit rating one step to "B" from "B-".[104] Standard & Poor's rated Egypt B-minus with a stable outlook and upgraded Egypt's credit rating in November 2013. On 7 April 2015, Moody's upgraded Egypt's outlook from Caa1 to B3 with stable outlook expecting real GDP growth in Egypt to recover to 4.5% year-on-year for the fiscal year 2015, which ends in June, and then to rise to around 5%–6% over the coming four years[105] compared to 2.5% in 2014.

In May 2015, Egypt chose the banks to handle its return to the international bond market after a gap of five years marking a return of economic and political stability in the country after the revolution of 2011.[106] However, in early 2016 the Egyptian pound suffered from devaluation: in February when the pound was allowed to float briefly, its value reduced rapidly from 7.83 LE per US dollar to 8.95 LE per dollar, resulting in increased prices for everyday goods.[107]

Energy policy[edit]

Considered its worst in decades, Egypt's energy crisis that helped inflame the protests against former president Mohamed Morsi[108] continued to grow in Sisi's first months in office, challenging the new government. Due to shortage in energy production, growing consumption, terrorist attacks on Egypt's energy infrastructure, debts to foreign oil companies and the absence of the needed periodic maintenance of the power plants, the energy blackout rates in Egypt rose to unprecedented levels, with some parts of the country facing around six power cuts a day for up to two hours each;[109] in August 2014, daily electricity consumption hit a record high of 27.7 gigawatts, 20% more power than stations could provide. The next month Egypt suffered a massive power outage that halted parts of the Cairo Metro, took television stations off the air, and ground much of the country to a halt for several hours because of the sudden loss of 50 percent of the country's power generation.[110] Sisi, on his part, said that the idler would be held accountable and promised to partially solve the economic crisis by August 2015, and that, beginning with December that year, the crisis will be dealt with entirely. Both long-term and short-term plans were introduced; in the short-term, Egypt signed a contract with General Electric (GE) to provide the country with 2.6 gigawatts by the summer of 2015. The first phase entered service in June and the final phase was expected to be completed by the end of August, making it one of the fastest energy transferring operations in the world according to GE;[111] in June, Sisi's administration stated that for the first time in years, Egypt achieved a surplus in power generating capacity estimated at 2.9 gigawatts. In the long-term, Egypt paid more than $6 billion it owed to foreign oil companies between January and March.[112] Energy contracts were placed as a top priority in the Egypt Economic Development Conference in March 2015, resulting in a $9 billion contract with Siemens to supply gas and wind power plants to boost the country's electricity generation by 50 percent,[113] in addition to an energy deal worth $12 billion (LE91.5 billion) with BP to provide the country with an extra quarter of local energy production.[114] Sisi also stated that Egypt is not just solving its energy crisis, but rather seeking to become a "global hub for energy trading."[115] In Nicosia on 21 November 2017 he met President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and the Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras.[116][117][118] They encouraged and welcomed private sector initiatives of energy infrastructure projects, important for energy security of all three countries such as the EuroAfrica Interconnector, interconnector between Greek, Cypriot, and Egypt power grids via submarine power cable of length around 1,619-kilometre (1,006 mi).[117][118]

National projects[edit]

In August 2014, President Sisi initiated a new Suez Canal, a parallel channel running about one-third the length of the existing waterway,[119] which would double capacity of the existing canal from 49 to 97 ships a day, the new canal is expected to increase the Suez Canal's revenues by 259% from current annual revenues of $5 billion. The project cost around 60 billion Egyptian-pounds ($8.4 billion) and was fast-tracked over a year. Sisi insisted funding come from Egyptian sources only,[120] the new canal was inaugurated on schedule on 6 August 2015.[121]

Sisi also introduced the Suez Canal Area Development Project[122] which would involve development of five new seaports in the three provinces surrounding the canal, a new industrial zone west of the Gulf of Suez, economic zones around the waterway, seven new tunnels between Sinai and the Egyptian home land, building a new Ismailia city, huge fish farms, and a technology valley within Ismailia.[123]

Sisi also started the National Roads Project, which involves building a road network of more than 4,400 kilometres and uses 104 acres of land, promising that there are many development and reconstruction campaigns for Egypt to reduce the unemployment rate and increase the poor's income.[124]

An ambitious plan to build a new city near Cairo to serve as the country's new capital was announced during the Egypt Economic Development Conference. Located east of Cairo approximately midway between Cairo and Suez, this proposed new capital of Egypt is yet to be formally named and is intended to relieve population pressures from the greater Cairo area.[125]

President Sisi has set a national goal of eliminating all unsafe slums in two years,[126] the first stage of the project was inaugurated on 30 May 2016 containing 11,000 housing units built at a cost of 1.56 billion EGP (177.8 Million USD). Funding was provided by the "Long Live Egypt" economic development fund in collaboration with civilian charitable organizations, the ultimate goal is the construction of 850,000 housing units with additional stages in processes funded in the same manner.[127]

Opinion polls[edit]

In August 2014, Egypt's Baseera, the Centre for Public Opinion Research, said in a poll result that only eight percent of the sample were unhappy with El-Sisi's performance and ten percent of the sample said they could not identify their position, the poll showed that 78 percent of the sample said they would vote for Sisi should the presidential elections be held again the next day while 11 percent said they would not. Eighty-nine percent said that there was improvement in the security situation after Sisi's taking office. Seventy-three percent said that fuel has become regularly available since Sisi's election. Meanwhile, 35 percent of respondents believed price controls had improved, while 32 percent believed that they have become worse. Twenty-nine percent of the respondents did not see any change, and three percent were undecided.[128]

An April 2016 poll by Baseera after 22 months in office, indicated that Sisi garnered 79% approval rating while 8% were undecided and 13% disapprove of the president's performance, these numbers indicate a moderate drop from the last poll done in 2014.[129]

In October 2016, Baseera conducted a poll that reports 68% of respondents claim to support Sisi,[130] a 14% fall from the last poll created in August,[131] and it included that the reason for the fall was the ongoing price hikes.

Foreign policy[edit]

Africa[edit]

El-Sisi made an African tour, his first foreign visit since taking office a short visit to Algeria, seeking support to counter Islamist militancy in North Africa.[132] Shortly before Sisi arrived in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to participate in the 23rd ordinary session of the African Union summit where he gave his speech blaming the AU for freezing Egypt's membership a year before. El-Sisi also announced the establishment of an Egyptian partnership agency for Africa's development,[133] he also concluded the tour with a few hours' visit to Sudan.[134]

Israel and Palestine[edit]

Further information: Egypt–Israel relations and Egypt–Palestine relations
Secretary Kerry, Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry Discuss Gaza Ceasefire With Egyptian President al-Sisi in Cairo

Relations with Israel have improved significantly following Mohamed Morsi's removal,[135][136] with Sisi saying he talks to Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, "a lot."[137] Sisi has been described by The Economist as "the most pro-Israeli Egyptian leader ever."[138] With continuous support for Palestine, the Sisi administration supports the two-state solution establishing a Palestinian state on lands that were occupied in 1967 [139] with Eastern Jerusalem as its capital for the Israeli–Palestinian conflict achieving the Palestinians needs and granting Israel the security it wants.[140] The first months of Sisi's presidency witnessed the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict. Egypt also criticised the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip as "oppressive policies of mass punishment rejecting 'the irresponsible Israeli escalation' in the occupied Palestinian territory, which comes in the form of 'excessive' and unnecessary use of military force leading to the death of innocent civilians." It also demanded Israel adopt self-restraint and to keep in mind that being an "occupation force", it has a legal and moral duty to protect civilian lives.[141]

After Egypt proposed an initiative for a ceasefire later accepted by Israel and rejected by Hamas, the Sisi administration urged the world to intervene and stop the crisis when it stated that its ceasefire efforts have been met with "obstinacy and stubbornness".[142] Egypt also hosted several meetings with both Israeli and Palestinian officials in Cairo to mediate a ceasefire. President Sisi also ordered the Egyptian Armed Forces to transport 500 tons of aid, consisting of food and medical supplies, to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. A statement was also released by the military saying that Egypt is pursuing its efforts to "stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip" under the president's supervision,[143][144] the conflict ended with an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire on 26 August 2014.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas sit together at the Congress Center in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on March 13, 2015

Egypt also hosted the international donor conference in Cairo aiming to raise 4 billion (3.2 billion euros) to reconstruct the Gaza Strip.[145] Sisi described the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict as a great chance to end the 66-year-old conflict calling on Israel to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians and saying "I call on the Israeli people and the government: now is the time to end the conflict ... so that prosperity prevails, so that we all can have peace and security".[145] Sisi mainly blames the Israeli–Palestinian conflict for the extremism in the Middle East describing it as a "fertile environment for the growth and spread of extremism, violence and terrorism".[146] Sisi also promised that Egypt would guarantee Palestine would not violate the peace treaty when reached expressing Egypt's willingness to deploy Egyptian observer forces in the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.[147]

Sisi also stipulated that the Palestinian Authority would take power in the Gaza Strip in future peace plans and conditioned an easing of transit restrictions at the Rafah checkpoint on the presence of a force from the Palestinian Authority's Presidential Guard being stationed on the Gaza side of the crossing[148] as the Sisi administration considers Hamas an enemy, blaming them for the killing of 16 Egyptian soldiers in 2012 and over the alleged involvement in the prisons' storming in the wake of Egyptian Revolution of 2011.[149]

Turkey[edit]

Further information: Egypt–Turkey relations

Relations between Egypt and Turkey deteriorated significantly after Morsi's ouster. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, then Prime Minister, was the only leader to call Morsi's ouster as a coup, calling for the immediate release of Morsi and insisting he is the legitimate president of Egypt. Turkish Minister for European Affairs Egemen Bagis also called for the UN Security Council to "take action" in Egypt.[150] Erdoğan was said not to recognise Sisi as president of Egypt and called him an "illegitimate tyrant"[151] in response to the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict and alleged Egyptian support for Israel in its war against Hamas;[152][153] in response to Erdoğan's remarks, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry warned that the Egypt–Turkey relationship would be worsened[154] while Sisi refused to respond. Egypt's foreign ministry accused Erdogan of provocation and interfering in Egypt's internal affairs; in November 2013, Egypt told the Turkish ambassador to leave the country, a day after Erdoğan called for Morsi to be freed. Relations with Ankara was also lowered to chargé d'affaires,[155] the Egyptian foreign ministry also said that Egypt has cancelled joint naval drils with Turkey over Turkey's interference in Egypt's domestic affairs.[156] In September 2014, Egypt's foreign minister cancelled a meeting with now-President Erdoğan requested by Turkey after Erdoğan made a speech critical of Egypt in the UN General Assembly.[157] An advisor to the Turkish president has denied that the countries' leaders were planning to meet. However, later Egypt's foreign ministry handed out a scanned document of Turkey's meeting proposal to the media and was published by Egypt's Youm7 newspaper.[158] Sisi's administration also decided to cancel the "Roll-on/roll-off" agreement with Turkey, blocking Turkey from transporting Turkish containers to the Gulf via Egyptian ports.[159] An intense campaign started by Egypt and Saudi Arabia against Turkey made it lose its predicted easy victory of membership in the United Nations Security Council.[160]

Arab world[edit]

Further information: Egypt–Saudi Arabia relations, Egypt–Syria relations, and Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Sisi, King Salman of Saudi Arabia and U.S. President Donald Trump at the 2017 Riyadh summit in Saudi Arabia

Al Jazeera reported in June 2014: "Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, and its wealthy Gulf Arab partners Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have given more than $20 billion to help Egypt since Morsi's overthrow, Sisi said last month, and are likely to pledge more."[161] In 2015, Egypt participated in the Saudi Arabian-led military intervention in Yemen.[162]

In April 2016 King Salman of Saudi Arabia made a five-day visit to Egypt, during which the two countries signed economic agreements worth approximately $25 billion and also made an agreement to "return" Tiran and Sanafir, two Egyptian-administered islands in the Gulf of Aqaba, to Saudi control. The announcement of the transfer of the islands provoked a backlash in both social media and traditional media, including outlets which had been firmly pro-Sisi;[107] in January 2017, an Egyptian court gave its final ruling rejecting the controversial government transfer of the two islands to Saudi Arabia. The Supreme Constitutional Court froze that ruling and allowed Sisi to ratify the deal with Saudi Arabia, making these two islands included in Mohammed Bin Salman's NEOM megacity.[163][164][165][166]

In November 2016, Sisi admitted that he supported the presidency of Bashar al-Assad in Syria for the sake of stability;[167] in a February 2017 article in Foreign Affairs, Oren Kessler, the Deputy Director for Research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, suggests there are three reasons for Sisi's pro-Assad position: Egypt's common enemies with Syria (ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood) as opposed to Saudi Arabia's antagonism with Iran; Egypt and Syria's shared opposition to the policies of Erdogan in Turkey; and Egypt's growing relations with Russia, a close ally of Syria.[167] Kessler concludes that the sentiment of "revolution fatigue" amplifies Sisi's support for Assad.[167]

Russia[edit]

Further information: Egypt–Russia relations
President Sisi (left) with President Vladimir Putin (2nd right)

Both military and political relations between Egypt and Russia witnessed significant improvements after Morsi's overthrow coinciding with the deterioration in relations between the United States and Egypt, once considered its important ally in the Middle East. Unlike the US, Russia supported Sisi's actions from the start, including his presidential bid.[72] Russia reportedly offered Egypt a huge military weapons deal after the US had suspended some military aid and postponed weapons delivery to Egypt, the Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first to congratulate Sisi on his inauguration. Sisi made Russia his first destination abroad as defence minister after being promoted to the rank of Field Marshal where he met with the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Minister of Defence General Sergey Shoygu to negotiate an arms deal with Russia instead of the United States.

Sisi and Vladimir Putin meeting on 10 February 2015

Sisi also visited Russia as an Egyptian President at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the visit was described by Putin as reflective of "the special nature" of the relation between the two countries. Sisi was welcomed by General Sergey Shoygu who showed him different Russian-made military vehicles and weapons in the airport. Moscow's Vedemosti business daily reported that Russia and Egypt are nearing a $3 billion (2.2 billion euro) weapons agreement.[168] President Putin also accompanied him to visit the Russian cruiser Moskva before they gave a joint televised statement. Sisi announced in his statement that there was a new plan of "renewing and developing" giant projects established by the former Soviet Union. President Putin announced that an agreement has been reached to increase Egypt's supply of agricultural goods to Russia by 30 percent while his country will provide Egypt with 5 to 5.5 million tons of wheat. In addition, a free trade zone was also being discussed.[168]

In 11 December 2017, during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Cairo, the two countries signed agreements in which Russia would build Egypt's first nuclear reactor, and supply nuclear fuel for the same, it was also agreed that a "Russian Industrial Zone" would be built along the Suez Canal, explained by Putin as being "the biggest regional center for producing Russian products onto the markets of the Middle-East and North Africa."[169]

United States[edit]

Further information: Egypt–United States relations
el-Sisi with Secretary of Defense James Mattis, in Washington, D.C., on 5 April 2017

Relations between Egypt and the United States witnessed tensions after Morsi's overthrow,[170] the United States strongly condemned Sisi's administration on several occasions[171] before deciding to delay selling four F-16 fighter jets,[172] Apaches and Abrams' kits to Egypt, the US also cancelled the Bright Star joint military exercise with the Egyptian Armed Forces.[173] Sisi's administration also showed unusual actions dealing with the US, calling on Obama's administration to exercise restraint in dealing with "racially charged" unrest in Ferguson, echoing language the US used to caution Egypt previously as it cracked down on Islamist protesters.[170]

US Secretary of State John Kerry sits with el-Sisi at the Congress Center in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 13 March 2015

They also checked US Secretary of State John Kerry and his top aides through a stationary metal detector as well as with a handheld wand before meeting with el-Sisi in an unusual screening for a senior State Department official.[174] Sisi also skipped Obama's invitation to the American-African summit.[175] However, in a 2014 news story, BBC reported: "The US has revealed it has released $575m in military aid to Egypt that had been frozen since the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi last year."[176] In September 2014 Sisi visited the US to address the UN General assembly in New York. An extensive media campaign produced billboards which were distributed all over New York City, welcoming the Egyptian president;[177] in August 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry was in Cairo for a "U.S.-Egypt strategic dialogue".[178]

Following the election of Republican Donald Trump as the President of the United States, the two countries are looking to improve the Egyptian-American relations. al-Sisi and Trump had met during the opening of the seventy-first session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2016.[179] The absence of Egypt in President Trump's travel ban towards seven Muslim countries was noted in Washington although the Congress has voiced human rights concerns over the handling of dissidents,[180] on March 22, 2017 it was reported that al-Sisi would be traveling to Washington to meet with Trump on April 3, 2017.[181] President Trump praised Sisi, saying that Sisi had "done a tremendous job under trying circumstance".[182]

Personal life[edit]

Unlike Hosni Mubarak, el-Sisi has been protective of the privacy of his family,[183] he is married to his cousin[184] Entissar Amer and is the father of three sons and one daughter. One of his sons is married to the daughter of former Egyptian army chief Mahmoud Hegazy,[185] he comes from a religious family and frequently quotes Quranic verses during informal conversations;[186] El-Sisi's wife wears the Islamic hijab, though usually a casual kind that covers the hair but not the neck. El-Sisi is known to be quiet and is often called the Quiet General. Even as a young man he was often called "General Sisi" due to his perceived orderly demeanor.[183]

According to Sherifa Zuhur, a professor at the War College, when el-Sisi attended, many American officers expressed doubts that Muslims could be democratic. El-Sisi disputed this opinion; he and others were critical of decisions made in Iraq and Libya. Zuhur also had the impression that el-Sisi supported a gradual move towards pluralism.[187]

Sisi described himself as "a doctor whose diagnoses are sought after by top philosophers and prominent world leaders."[188][189]

Recognition[edit]

Military[edit]

 
  
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg
  • 25 April Decoration (Liberation of Sinai)[29]
  • Distinguished Service Decoration[29]
  • Military Duty Decoration, Second Class[29]
  • Military Duty Decoration, First Class[29]
  • Longevity and Exemplary Medal[29]
  • Kuwait Liberation Medal[29]
  • Kuwait Liberation Medal (Egypt)
  • Silver Jubilee of October War Medal[29]
  • Golden Jubilee of 23 July Revolution[29]
  • Silver Jubilee of the Liberation of Sinai Medal[29]
  • 25 January Revolution Medal[29]
  • Military Courage Decoration
  • The Republic's military Decoration
  • The Training's Decoration
  • The Army's Day Decoration

Civil[edit]

Publications[edit]

Written by Sisi when he was a Brigardier General:

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Military offices
Preceded by
Mohamed Hussein Tantawi		 General Commander of the Armed Forces
2012–2014		 Succeeded by
Sedki Sobhi
Political offices
Preceded by
Mohamed Hussein Tantawi		 Minister of Defence
2012–2014		 Succeeded by
Sedki Sobhi
Preceded by
Momtaz El-Saeed		 Deputy Prime Minister of Egypt
2013–2014		 Vacant
Preceded by
Adly Mansour
Interim		 President of Egypt
2014–present		 Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abdel_Fattah_el-Sisi&oldid=845864530"