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| Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi | |
|---|---|
| Name | Abdel Fattah el-Sisi |
| Office | President of Egypt |
| Term start | 2014 |
| Predecessor | Adly Mansour |
| Birth date | 1954-11-19 |
| Birth place | Cairo, Republic of Egypt |
| Alma mater | Egyptian Military Academy |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is an Egyptian politician and former Egyptian Armed Forces officer who became President of Egypt in 2014 after serving as Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff. Born in Cairo in 1954, he rose through the ranks of the Armored Corps and held key positions during events such as the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and the 2013 removal of Mohamed Morsi. His presidency has been marked by large infrastructure projects like the New Suez Canal alongside partnerships with states including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United States and Russia. El-Sisi's tenure has generated debate involving Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, United Nations Human Rights Council, and governments such as United Kingdom and European Union.
El-Sisi was born in Cairo to a family with military links and attended the Egyptian Military Academy where he trained alongside classmates who later became figures in the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the Military Intelligence Directorate and the General Intelligence Directorate. He completed advanced courses at institutions including the Nasser Military Academy and studied at staff colleges associated with the United States Army Command and General Staff College programs and cooperative exchanges with the British Army and Jordan Armed Forces. His formative education connected him to networks spanning the Ministry of Defense, NATO partner training programs, and regional military establishments such as those of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
El-Sisi's career in the Armored Corps included command of armored units that traced traditions to the Yom Kippur War veterans and institutional linkages to the Suez Canal Zone commands and the Second Field Army. He served in roles within the Military Intelligence Directorate and as commander of the Northern Military Region, building relationships with entities like the Central Military Committee and the Egyptian Air Defense Command. Promoted to Chief of Staff and later Minister of Defense under interim authorities such as Adly Mansour, he oversaw operations that addressed threats from Sinai insurgency groups, coordinated with the Multinational Force and Observers, and engaged with partner militaries including the United States Central Command, Russian Ground Forces, and security services from France.
El-Sisi entered the political spotlight during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution when the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces assumed authority, and his profile rose further during the 2012 Egyptian presidential election aftermath and the presidency of Mohamed Morsi. As Minister of Defense he organized the 2013 removal of Morsi, working with institutions such as the Muslim Brotherhood, the Liberal Nationalists, and media outlets including Al-Ahram and Al-Masry Al-Youm. He launched a public transition that led to a 2014 presidential campaign backed by coalitions including the Free Egyptians Party, Nation's Future Party, and business figures tied to the Suez Canal Economic Zone and Gulf investors from Qatar's rivals. His ascent involved engagement with regional actors such as Gulf Cooperation Council members and security dialogues with Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
El-Sisi won the 2014 and 2018 presidential elections with large margins amid endorsements from political movements like the National Progressive Unionist Party and business elites associated with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones. His administration launched major initiatives including the New Suez Canal expansion, the Suez Canal Economic Zone development, urban projects in New Administrative Capital, and energy projects with companies such as British Petroleum, Eni, and Rosneft. He consolidated relations with leaders including Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Salman of Saudi Arabia, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump, and engaged in negotiations involving African Union initiatives, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute with Ethiopia and Sudan, and Egyptian participation in Arab League forums.
Domestically, el-Sisi's administration implemented economic reforms linked to the International Monetary Fund program, subsidy restructuring with state agencies like the Ministry of Petroleum, and infrastructure financing involving the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Gulf sovereign funds. Security-focused policies targeted insurgent activity in the Sinai Peninsula and counterterrorism cooperation with the United States Department of Defense, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, and regional partners such as Jordan and Israel. Institutional changes included amendment processes involving the Egyptian Parliament and constitutional amendments that affected term limits and presidential powers, while state media outlets including Al-Ahram and ON TV reported government priorities alongside private conglomerates like Orascom.
El-Sisi pursued bilateral ties with powers such as United States, Russia, China, and regional states including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Qatar (with fluctuating dynamics), while participating in multilateral forums like the United Nations, African Union, and Arab League. His foreign policy emphasized security cooperation on issues involving Libya, engagements with factions like the GNA and opposing groups, and mediation efforts tied to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and relations with Hamas. Strategic partnerships with energy firms including TotalEnergies, BP, and ENI supported gas field developments in the Mediterranean Sea and regional energy corridors linking to European Union markets.
El-Sisi's administration has faced sustained criticism from organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and UN rapporteurs regarding mass trials, enforced disappearances, and restrictions on political parties including the Freedom and Justice Party. Cases involving journalists from outlets like Al Jazeera and activists associated with groups such as April 6 Youth Movement prompted responses from governments including United States Department of State, European Commission, and rights bodies within the United Nations Human Rights Council. Domestic legal instruments and courts such as the Egyptian Constitutional Court and security institutions like the Central Security Forces have been focal points in debates over civil liberties, while international lawmakers in the European Parliament and legislatures such as the United States Congress have periodically reviewed aid, arms sales, and sanctions in response to documented concerns.