Egyptian President - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Egypt’s Sisi: Authoritarian leader with penchant for bridges

EGYPTIAN President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been criticised as a despot for crushing opposition lingering from a brief period of democracy while winning praise from supporters for boosting security and driving an army-led infrastructure binge. The former general began a third term on Tuesday after sweeping a December 10 election overshadowed by the war in neighbouring Gaza and a faltering economy, a decade after he toppled Egypt's first democratically-elected president. Activists say tens of thousands of people were jailed in the ensuing crackdown before Sisi turned his attention to state- and army-run mega-projects and development schemes. The flagship project is a $58 billion New Administrative Capital rising…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Egypt’s Sisi starts third term pledging more investment, social spending

NEWS

EGYPTIAN President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in for his third term in the country's new capital, the largest of the mega-projects that have come to symbolise his rule while stretching the country's finances. Speaking at the new parliament building, Sisi highlighted the challenges Egypt withstood in recent years while promising continued development, which many Egyptians say they feel excluded from. "The past few years have shown that the path of nation-building is not paved with roses ... between terrorist attempts at home, sudden global crises abroad, fierce wars around us," Sisi told lawmakers and religious, government, and military officials.…

Feb

2024

By HUMEYRA PAMUK

Blinken to meet Egypt’s Sisi on Gaza hostage deal

NEWS

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Cairo for his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as the United States works to advance a Gaza truce and hostage deal mediated by the Egyptians and Qataris. The top U.S. diplomat departed Riyadh shortly after sunrise for what is set to be a marathon day visiting Egypt and Qatar before flying to Israel to discuss hostage negotiations, post-war Gaza plans and the prospect of Arab countries and Israel normalizing ties. Blinken's fifth trip to the region since October comes as the United States presses ahead with its retaliatory campaign against…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Egypt says talks over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have failed -statement

NEWS

EGYPT said the latest talks over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) had failed but it would monitor the process of filling and operating the dam. "Egypt reserves its right, in accordance with international charters and accords, to defend its water and national security in case of any harm," Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said in a statement. In a statement, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said Egypt had "misrepresented" Ethiopia's positions in the talks, adding that Egypt's "colonial era mentality and erected roadblocks against efforts toward convergence". Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in…

Oct

2023

By PHIL STEWART and AIDAN LEWIS

US general meets Egypt’s Sisi in push for aid to Gaza

NEWS

THE top U.S. general overseeing American troops in the Middle East made an unannounced trip to Egypt for talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that focused on the Israel-Hamas war and how to get aid to the Gaza Strip. Egypt's Sinai peninsula adjoins the Gaza Strip and its Rafah border crossing is the sole route for aid to enter Gaza directly from outside Israel. It is also the only exit that does not lead to Israeli territory. More than 100 trucks were waiting close to the crossing on the Egyptian side on Thursday, though it was not expected that aid would…

Oct

2023

By MUHAMMAD AL GEBALY and FARAH SAAFAN

Sisi confirms candidacy for Egypt poll, opposition report obstacles

NEWS

EGYPTIAN President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi confirmed that he will stand for a third term in office in an election in December, as opposition parties complained that people trying to register support for other candidates had faced obstacles. "Just as I responded to the call of the Egyptians before, today I respond to their call again," Sisi said in a closing speech for a three-day event that promoted policies under his rule at a new capital being built in the desert outside Cairo. "We are on the cusp of our new republic, which seeks to complete the process of the state's…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Egypt and India bolster ties as Modi makes first trip to Cairo

NEWS

EGYPT and India discussed strengthening ties in areas including trade, food security and defence during a state visit to Cairo by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two countries said. On his first trip to Egypt, Modi met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egyptian ministers appointed to an "India unit" after a state visit by Sisi to India in January during which a "strategic partnership" was announced. Both sides said talks on Sunday covered areas including trade and investment, renewable energy, information technology and pharmaceuticals. "Prime Minister (Modi) and President Sisi also discussed further cooperation in G-20, highlighting the…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Egypt’s Sisi visits Saudi Arabia amid financial pressure, regional realignment

WORLD

EGYPTIAN President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visited Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Saudi state news agency SPA said, as Cairo seeks financial inflows to ease pressure on its currency and bolster a faltering economy. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia has long provided financial support to Egypt but recently signalled it would no longer provide such backing without conditions attached, which observers think may have sparked a rare media clash between the two countries. The trip also comes amid a major diplomatic realignment in the region, with moves by Saudi Arabia and Egypt to ease tensions with Syria, Iran and Turkey. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, met…