Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Name	Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Office	President of Egypt
Term start	8 June 2014
Vicepresident	Omar Suleiman (2011), Vacant (2011–2019), Mahmoud Mekki (2012–2013), Vacant (2013–2018), Ibrahim Mahlab (2014–2015), Vacant (2015–2018), Ahmed Shafik (2011–2012), Vacant (2012–2014), Omar Suleiman (2011), Vacant (2011–2019), Mahmoud Mekki (2012–2013), Vacant (2013–2018), Ibrahim Mahlab (2014–2015), Vacant (2015–2018), Ahmed Shafik (2011–2012), Vacant (2012–2014)
Primeminister	Ibrahim Mahlab, Sherif Ismail, Mostafa Madbouly
Predecessor	Adly Mansour (Acting), Mohamed Morsi
Birth date	19 November 1954
Birth place	Cairo, Egypt
Party	Independent
Spouse	Entissar Amer (m. 1977)
Allegiance	Egypt
Branch	Egyptian Army
Serviceyears	1977–2014
Rank	Field Marshal
Commands	Military Intelligence, Northern Military Region, Egyptian Armed Forces

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is an Egyptian politician and former military officer who has served as the President of Egypt since 2014. He rose to prominence as the Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces during a period of political upheaval. His presidency has been defined by large-scale national projects, a stringent security posture, and a pivotal role in regional diplomacy, while facing significant international scrutiny over human rights issues.

Early life and military career

Born in Cairo in 1954, he graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1977 and was commissioned into the Egyptian Army's mechanized infantry. He received further training at the Egyptian Command and Staff College and the United States Army War College in Pennsylvania. His career included command posts in Saudi Arabia and Britain, and he served as a military attaché in Riyadh. He held several key positions, including commander of the Northern Military Region in Alexandria, before being appointed by President Mohamed Morsi as the director of the Military Intelligence and Reconnaissance Directorate in 2010, and later as Minister of Defence in 2012.

Rise to power

As Minister of Defence, he oversaw the Egyptian Armed Forces during a period of intense political crisis following the 2011 Egyptian revolution. On 3 July 2013, following mass protests against the rule of President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, he announced the removal of Morsi, suspended the constitution, and installed the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, as interim president. This event, described by his supporters as a revolution and by critics as a coup, was followed by a violent crackdown on pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo. He subsequently resigned from the military, was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, and announced his candidacy for the presidency, winning the 2014 Egyptian presidential election in a landslide.

Presidency

He was sworn into office in June 2014 and began a tenure marked by the launch of major infrastructure projects, most notably a significant expansion of the Suez Canal. His government has faced persistent challenges from Islamist militancy, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula, leading to prolonged military operations. He was re-elected in the 2018 Egyptian presidential election and again in the 2023 Egyptian presidential election, both elections characterized by a lack of viable opposition candidates. His administration has overseen a constitutional amendment in 2019 that extended presidential term limits, allowing him to remain in power potentially until 2030.

Foreign policy

His foreign policy has positioned Egypt as a key regional power broker, maintaining a strong strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia, while carefully managing relations with the United States. He has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and has mediated conflicts in Libya and Sudan. Under his leadership, Egypt has strengthened ties with Cyprus and Greece regarding energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, and has engaged in complex diplomacy concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute with Ethiopia.

Domestic policy and human rights

Domestically, his government has pursued an ambitious economic reform program in coordination with the International Monetary Fund, which included floating the Egyptian pound and cutting subsidies, leading to high inflation. The state has undertaken massive construction projects like the New Administrative Capital. His rule has been criticized by organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for severe restrictions on political freedoms, a crackdown on dissent, and the imprisonment of thousands of political opponents, including journalists, activists, and members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Laws regulating NGOs and the media have been tightened, and the security apparatus, including the National Security Agency, has been empowered.

Personal life and public image

He is married to Entissar Amer, and the couple has three sons and one daughter. His public image is carefully managed through state media and large public appearances, often portraying him as a decisive leader protecting Egypt from terrorism and chaos. Supporters, including many in the business community and parts of the Coptic Orthodox Church, credit him with restoring stability after the Arab Spring. Critics, both domestically and in the European Parliament, accuse him of authoritarianism and presiding over a severe decline in civil liberties. His speeches frequently emphasize nationalism, stability, and the perils of political Islam.

Category:Presidents of Egypt Category:Egyptian field marshals Category:1954 births Category:Living people