EgyptianFieldMarshalAbdElFattahElSisi: AProfile

Col.(ret.)Dr.JacquesNeriah,February27,2014

Vol.14,No.5March1,2014

FewdetailsareknownaboutEgyptianFieldMarshalSisis character,letaloneabouthispersonallife.Sisihasbeenverycarefulnot toopenadialoguewiththemediaabouthimself,hisfamily,orhispersonal thoughts. SisienjoysunprecedentedpopularityinEgypt.Heisviewedas asuperherowhosavedEgyptfromanarchy,civilwar,andthedespotism oftheMuslimBrotherhood. Sisihasperfectedhisapproachtothemediabychoosingavery ablePRteamthathandlesallhispublicappearances,functions,and events.NodoubttheSisifeverisbeingfueledpartlybySisihimselfor bypeoplearoundhimwhosupporthim. SisiisnotanewcomerinEgyptianpolitics.Inhiscapacityasa

memberoftheSupremeCounciloftheArmedForces(SCAF),fortwo yearshewastheliaisonofficerbetweenSCAFandthedifferentpolitical partiesontheEgyptianscene.Thisenabledhimtolearntheintricaciesof politicsinEgyptandbecomepersonallyacquaintedwitheverypolitical faction. WhenthelastwarbetweenEgyptandIsraelwasfoughtin1973,Abd ElFattahElSisiwasalmost19yearsold.Fouryearslater,hegraduated fromtheMilitaryAcademyandbegananastoundingcareerthatbrought himin2012,after35yearsofservice,tothetoppositionasCommander inChiefoftheEgyptianarmyandEgyptsMinisterofDefenseandMilitary Production. SisiwasbornonNovember19,1954,andgrewupinGamaliya,Cairos oldIslamicdistrict.Sisihasbeenverysecretiveabouthischildhoodand hisorigins.HisofficialhistorybeginswithhisgraduationfromEgypts MilitaryAcademyonApril1,1977.1Hismilitarycareerisareflectionofthe strategicdecisionmadebythelateEgyptianPresidentAnwarelSadatto changeEgyptscoursefromaSovietorientedcountryandbecomeanally oftheUnitedStatesandtheWest. SisiunderwentkeytrainingintheU.S.andtheUK.Heattendedabasic infantrycourseintheU.S.andlaterattendedtheJointCommandandStaff CollegeatKimberlyintheUKin1992.HewassenttotheU.S.ArmyWar Collegein2006.InEgypt,SisicompletedaBachelorofMilitarySciences andthenaMastersdegreefromtheEgyptianStaffandCommand Collegein1987.HelaterwenttotheNasserHigherMilitaryAcademyin 2003. Sisiscareerbeganinthemechanizedinfantry,wherehewas, successively,commanderofthe509thmechanizedinfantrybattalion, chiefofstaffofthe134thmechanizedinfantrybrigade,commanderofthe 16thmechanizedinfantrybrigade,andfinallychiefofstaffofthe2nd

mechanizedinfantrydivision,beforebeingnominatedtotheprestigious positionsofchiefofstaffofthenorthernmilitaryzonein2008and afterwardsasdeputydirectorofthemilitaryintelligenceand reconnaissancedepartment(2011).2 Assuch,SisiwaspartoftheSupremeCounciloftheArmedForces (SCAF)headedbyFieldMarshalMohammadHusseinTantawi,whoruled EgyptafterPresidentMubaraksresignationinJanuary2011untilthe electionswhichwerewonbytheMuslimBrotherhood,thebestorganized butleastqualifiedparty.3ThisledtotheelectionofMuslimBrother MohammadMorsiaspresident.Morsitookadvantageofasurprise terroristattackthatkilled16EgyptiansoldiersintheSinaiPeninsula,and replacedtheagingTantawiwithSisionAugust12,2012,inan unprecedentedreshuffleofthemilitarythatwasmeanttosignalthe takeoveroftheMuslimBrotherhoodinEgyptasawhole.Sisiwas promotedtotherankofLieutenantGeneral(FariqAwwal)andalsotook thepostofMinisterofDefenseandMilitaryProduction. Elevenmonthslater,inresponsetomassdemonstrationscallingfor MorsisoverthrowthattookplaceinTahrirSquareinCairo,aswellasin otherbigEgyptiancitiessuchasAlexandria,Suez,andPortSaid,Sisi presentedanultimatumthatthedemandsoftheantiMorsidemonstrators bemetbyJuly3,2013.Morsisrefusaltodealwiththeissueledtohis replacementbyatransitionalgovernmentheadedbyHazemelBeblawi andaninterimpresident,theformerChiefJusticeoftheSupremeCourt, MansourelAdly.Sisibecamethestrongman,keepinghisprevious positionsasheadofthearmedforcesandMinisterofDefenseandMilitary Production.OnJanuary27,2014,Sisiwaspromotedtothehighestrankin theEgyptianarmyFieldMarshal(MushirinArabic)onthesamedayin whichtheArabpressleakedthatSisihadfinallydecidedtorunforthe officeofPresidentofEgyptintheelectionstobeheldin2014.4 SisienjoysunprecedentedpopularityinEgypt.Heisviewedasa superherowhosavedEgyptfromanarchy,civilwar,andthedespotismof

theMuslimBrotherhood.BetweenTVcommercialsusedtoadvertisefood products,groupsonsocialnetworkingsites,andpostersinthestreet, EgypthasbeenwitnessingSisifever.5Talkshowsandnewspaper columnshavebeenadvocatingtheideaofthegeneralrunningfor presidentinordertofighttheterroristthreatthattheysaythecountryis facing.Localmediaarealsobuzzingaboutthewidespreadsupportfora Sisipresidency. Infact,Sisihasnorealcompetitor.Mostoftheotherpotentialcandidates AmrMoussa,AhmadShafik,HamdeenSabahi,AbdelMuneimAboul FoutouhhavedeclaredthatifSisiwouldrunforpresident,theywould retracttheircandidacies.Recently,anumberofcampaignshavebeen launchedcallingonthegeneraltorunforpresident.Thecampaignsare calledCompleteYourFavor,ANationsDemand,andAlSisifor President.Theiraimistocirculatepetitionswiththehopethat30million signatureswillconvinceSisitorun,justasmillionsofsignaturesconvinced himtoactagainstMorsi.6 However,nowthathewillprobablybeEgyptsnextpresident,thequestion remains:WhoinfactisSisi?

ACarefullyCraftedImage
Veryfewdetailsareknownabouthischaracter,letaloneabouthis personallife.Sisihasbeenverycarefulnottoopenadialoguewiththe mediaabouthimself,hisfamily,orhispersonalthoughts.Mostofthe detailsabouthimarescarceanddifficulttoverify.Hegenerally communicatesthroughspeechesandhasconductedinterviewsonvery fewoccasions.Farfrombeingasternmilitaryfigure,hehasacharismatic presence,oftensmiling. Heisknownforhisemotionalspeeches,butisneitherapopulistnora demagogue.Hedoesnotusepompouslanguageorinflammatory vocabulary.Heusessimplewordsandsentencesspokeninasofttone, nevershowingexasperation,anger,orardor.Hepreferstospeakin

colloquialEgyptianArabicratherthanofficialliteraryArabic,andheis knownforhispoignantaddressesthatmakehisaudienceweepin sympathy.Ataconcertin2012,hiswordshadartistsonthestagewithhim intears.SomeofhisstatementshavebecomepartoftheEgyptiancultural heritage,suchas,Wewouldprefertodiebeforeyou[theEgyptian people]wouldfeelthepain,ThehandthatharmsanyEgyptianmustbe cut,andWhenyou[theEgyptianpeople]wantedthechange,you changedthingsyouarethelightofoureyes.7 SisihasalwaysstressedthattheEgyptianarmywillimplementtheorders ofthepeople.SincehisnominationbyMorsi,Sisihasbeenverycareful toaskthepeopletomovebeforehecarriesoutanytask. ItseemsthatSisihaslearnedthelessonsofamistakehemadeinApril 2012.Atthattime,hemadeheadlineswithastatementthatappearedto defendvirginitytestscarriedouton17womenwhoweredetainedand beatenbysoldiersatanantiMubarakprotestinTahrirSquareinMarch 2011.Sisisaidthatthetestshadbeenconductedtoprotectthegirlsfrom rapeandthesoldiersandofficersfromaccusationsofrape.SCAF quicklydistanceditselffromthecommentsandSisiquicklypromisedto abolishsuchtests,buttheincidentwasablowtothemilitarysimage.8 Accordingly,itseemsthatSisihasperfectedhisapproachtothemediaby choosingaveryablePRteamthathandlesallhispublicappearances, functions,andevents.9NodoubttheSisifeverisbeingfueledpartlyby Sisihimselforbypeoplearoundhimwhosupporthim.Thesesupporters stresshischarisma,hispopularity,andhisauthoritativedemeanor.They alsoemphasizethatSisiissomeonewhomakestough,harsh,and unpopulardecisions,andyetatthesametimepresentshimselfasthe guardianofthepeopleswillanddeliverscolloquialandsentimental speechestothenation.10 MoreinterestingistheconcentratedefforttopictureSisiasthepolitical heiroftheiconicPresidentGamalAbdelNasser.Sisihimselfhasrevived

theNasseristcultandparticipatedinthe43rdmemorialceremony commemoratingNassersdeath.Sisihasalsoallowedposterstospread withhispictureadjacenttotheveneratedpresident,invitedNassersson anddaughtertoofficialceremonies(suchastheoneheldto commemoratetheOctoberWar),andusedNassersmagicwordsin hisspeeches.WhenthesephrasesarepronouncedbySisi,Egyptiansare abletoenvisionhimasthesuccessortoNasser,theEgyptianleaderwho foughttheMuslimBrotherhooddomesticallyandledEgypttothe leadershipoftheArabWorldandthenonalignedcommunity. Inaway,SisisrevivalofNassersmemorywasawayforhimtosatisfy deeplyburiedlongingsforaneraofEgyptianprominenceinAraband worldpolitics.NassersfamilyhasmobilizedinordertogiveSisithe legitimacytopresenthimselfasNasserspoliticalsuccessor.Nassers daughterHudawroteanopenlettertoSisiurginghimtostepforwardand takeresponsibilityforthedestinythatisyours.11However,military sourcesclosetoSisistressthatbyportrayingSisiasthepolitical continuationofNasser,thisdoesnotmeaninanywayarecapitulationof theNasseristpoliciesrather,itsymbolizesSisiswilltofulfillNassers aspirationforsocialjusticeinEgyptiansociety.12 KnownasadevoutMuslim,Sisigenerallybeginshisdayswiththemorning prayer(Salatelfajr),buthisfaithhasnotinvadedhispoliticalrhetoric. Sisiswife,likemostEgyptianwomen,wearsthehijab(veil)inpublic. Perhapsbecauseofthesefacts,andcertainlyafterhavingbeenchosen byPresidentMorsiasthereplacementforFieldMarshalTantawi,analysts mistakenlythoughtthatSisisnominationreflectedapersonalaffinitytothe MuslimBrotherhood.Infact,itseemsthatSisisreflectionsonIslamand theroleofreligioninstateaffairsarequitedifferent.Inarecentspeechat theDepartmentofMoralAffairsofthearmedforces,Sisideclaredthat religiousdiscourseisthegreatestbattleandchallengefacingthe Egyptianpeople,andpointedtotheneedforanewvisionandamodern comprehensiveunderstandingofthereligionofIslam,ratherthanrelying

onadiscoursethathasnotchangedfor800years.13 Sisiisthefatheroffourchildren:threesonsandadaughter.Histhree sonsgraduatedfromtheMilitaryAcademyandhavejoineddifferentunits intheEgyptianArmedForces.Theeldestofthebrothersismarriedtothe daughteroftheDirectorofMilitaryIntelligence,GeneralMahmoudHijazi. Sisisdaughtergotmarried,farfromthelimelight,attheendofJanuary 2014.14

AVeteranofPolitics
SisiisnotanewcomerinEgyptianpolitics.Inhiscapacityasamemberof SCAF,fortwoyearshewastheliaisonofficerbetweenSCAFandthe differentpoliticalpartiesontheEgyptianscene.Thishelpedhimlearnthe intricaciesofpoliticsinEgyptandbecomepersonallyacquaintedwith everypoliticalfaction. SisihaswontheadmirationofEgyptiansmainlybecauseofhischaracter. Theinfantryofficerhasprovenhistenacity,hisstubbornness,andhis couragewhenhedecidedtoconfronttheMuslimBrotherhood,the archenemiesofthemilitaryforalmosteightdecades.Heisknowntobea goodanalyst,atactician,andalongtermstrategist.Inarareinterviewwith theEgyptiannewspaperAlMasrielYawm,Sisirevealedthatinhis capacityasHeadofIntelligence,hepresentedFieldMarshalTantawi,then MinisterofDefenseandMilitaryProduction,withapaperforecastingthe upheavalinEgyptoneyearlater.15Askedaboutthisanalysisandtheways hereachedhisconclusion,Sisiwasonlywillingtosaythatthearmed forceshadthemeanstomonitorthedomesticscene. SinceJuly3,2013,Sisihasbeenregardedasamanofdeepthinking,an excellentstrategist,andaworkaholicwhogetsthingsdoneonschedule. Peoplewhoknowhimsaythatheisusedtohandlingcrises,apersonwho thinksoutoftheboxandisflexibleenoughtouseunconventional methods.Heisknowntoplanaheadseveralmovesinadvanceand seemsabletocarryouthisplans.Amilitarymantothecore,heisnotthe

typeofpersonwhowouldtolerateinefficiency.Inresponsetoaquestion ofhowhewouldhandlethingsifeverhebecamepresident,herepliedwith humornobodywouldsleepmeaningthateverybodywouldbe workingdayandnightandtherewouldbenoslackingofforanyexcuses accepted.16 Sincesummer2013,inlessthaneightmonths,Sisimadeseveralradical decisionsthatchangedthecourseofeventsinEgypt: 1.OustingMohammedMorsi.TheMuslimBrotherhoodwasplanninga waveofarrests,whichSisiknewaboutaheadoftime.Asaresult,he orderedthedeploymentoftheEgyptianarmyatallstrategicpointsinCairo andEgyptsothermaincities,whichtookMorsiandhisfollowersby surprise.17OnJuly3,SisihadhislastmeetingwithMorsi,attheendof whichhetoldMorsi:Youshouldseeyourselfasbeingconfinedtoyour quarters! 2.CrackingdownontheMuslimBrotherhood.InAugust2013, contrarytoadvicegivenbytheAmericanadministration,Sisiunleashed thearmedforcesagainstMuslimBrotherhooddemonstratorswhowere paralyzingCairoandEgyptsothermaincities.HundredsofMuslim Brotherhoodmembersaswellashundredsofpoliceofficerswerekilledin theensuingclashes.Attheendoftheday,Sisiwasruthlessandunwilling tocompromise.Thepricewashigh,butEgypthadreturnedtobeing governable,andhehadputastoptopoliticalIslam.TheU.S. administrationchosetopunishthenewgoverningteam,claimingthatMorsi wasalegitimaterulerbecausehewaselectedinfreeelections.TheU.S. delayedpartofitsmilitaryaidtoEgyptandhaltedarmsdeliveriesthat werealreadyontheirway.18InacandidinterviewwiththeWashington PostonAugust3,2013,SisiaccusedtheObamaadministrationof betrayingEgypt:YoulefttheEgyptians,hesaid.Youturnedyourback ontheEgyptiansandtheywontforgetthat.19 3.FightingjihadistsinSinaiandHamasinGaza.Sisihadinheriteda

verydiresituationwheretheSinaiPeninsulawasbeinginvadedbywaves ofjihadistswhochallengedEgyptsauthorityandsovereigntyinthe peninsula.PresidentMorsihadmadeamockeryoftheEgyptianarmys effortstoeradicatethephenomenoninSinai.Morsihadorderedthe releaseofterroristsfromprisonandallowedhundredsofthemtofinda safehaveninSinai.SinceJuly2013,theEgyptianarmyhasdeclaredwar againstthejihadistsinSinai.TheEgyptianarmyalsoturnedagainst HamasinGaza,accusingtheterroristgroupofcooperatingwiththe MuslimBrotherhoodagainsttheregime.Hundredsoftunnelswere destroyed,andadefactosiegehasbeenputinplaceinordertoputahalt toarmstraffickingbetweenGazaandSinai.TheEgyptianpresseven hintedthatHamaswouldbethenexttargettobesubduedbytheEgyptian regime.SisisworkingrelationswithhisIsraelicounterpartshaveallowed greaterfreedomofmaneuverabilityfortheEgyptianarmedforcesinSinai, easingthetaskofcombatingjihadiststhere.20 4.SavingtheEgyptianeconomyfromcollapse.Inhislongmilitary career,SisiservedasmilitaryattachintheKingdomofSaudiArabia.He keptgoodrelationswiththeSaudis,whowerethefirsttocometoEgypts rescueaftertheoustingofMorsi.Sisisecured$1416billioninloansfrom theGulfstates,whichwereessentialtokeeptheEgyptianeconomyafloat. SisievensucceededtogetaSaudiloanof$2billionforthepurchaseof militaryequipmentfromRussia. 5.WarmingrelationswithRussiaandthecontinuingchillwiththe UnitedStates.ExceptforcontactsbetweenU.S.SecretaryofDefense ChuckHagelandSisi,littlehashappenedtorestorerelationsbetweenthe twocountries.Onthecontrary,theEgyptianauthoritiesrecentlyarrested anEgyptianemployeeattheAmericanEmbassyandaccusedhimof beingtheliaisonbetweentheMuslimBrotherhoodandtheU.S.Embassy. Moreover,theObamaadministrationisbeingaccusedoflobbyingthe formerchiefofstaff,SamiAnan,tobecomeacandidateforthe presidencyagainstSisi.Needlesstosay,Ananisnowbeingaccusedin

theEgyptianmediaofbeinganagentoftheUnitedStates. TheEgyptiananswertotheObamaadministrationspunishmentwas expected:aturntowardMoscow.Sisiunderstoodtherisingpowerof RussiaintheMiddleEastandthedeclininginfluenceoftheUnitedStates, thesuperpowerthatreignedunchallengedintheregionsincethe1973 YomKippurWar.TheArabSpringhastakenaheavytollonAmerican influenceintheareaandaseriesofillfateddecisions(mainlyintheLibyan andSyriancrisesaswellasabadchoicemadebytheU.S.administration relatingtoEgypt)wereinstrumentalintheemergenceofRussiaasan alternativepowerintheregion. FirstcamethevisitoftheRussianministerofdefenseaccompaniedby theministerofforeignaffairsinmidNovember2013.Thiswasfollowedby SisisfirstevervisittoRussia,probablytoconcludethearmsdeal negotiatedduringanearliervisittoCairobyaRussianteam,andto discussotherissues,includingthepossibilityofgrantingRussiaanaval baseinAlexandriaandcooperationinthenuclearenergyfield.Inaddition, SisievenreceivedagreenlightandablessingfromPutintorunfor PresidentofEgypt.21 6.Settingthedomesticagenda.Theoverwhelmingvoteofsupportfor thenewEgyptianconstitutiononJanuary15,2014,isdefinitelythe highlightofSisisvictoryovertheMuslimBrotherhood.Sisilookedatthe issueasavoteofconfidence,whichhereceived.However,insteadof movingforwardwithlegislativeelections,Sisihaschosentofirsthold presidentialelections.Thisdecisionwillmakeiteasierforthepresidentto influencethecompositionofthenextparliament.ThenewEgyptian constitutiongivesaparamountroletothearmedforces,cementingtheir gripasthePraetorianguardofEgyptandcreatingasituationinwhichthe armedforcesarethedefactocustodiansofEgyptspoliticalfuture. Atthesametime,however,sincetheoutlawingoftheMuslimBrotherhood andinwakeofthemountingterroristcampaigninsideEgypt,individual

libertieshavebeeneroded,criticismagainstthemilitaryandtheregimeis beingstifled,journalistshavebeenarrested,22andthefreedomof expressionguaranteedbytheconstitutionhasbeenrestricted. ThecourseofeventsisshapingSisiintothenextleaderofEgypt. AccordingtoRobertSpringwritinginForeignAffairs,althoughSisihas vowedtoleadEgyptthroughademocratictransition,thereareplentyof indicationsthatheislessthanenthusiasticaboutdemocracyandthathe intendstoholdontopoliticalpowerhimself.Butthatsnottosaythathe envisionsareturntothesecularauthoritarianismofEgyptsrecentpast. GiventhedetailsofSisisbiographyandthecontentofhisonlypublished work,athesishewrotein2006whilestudyingattheU.S.ArmyWar CollegeinPennsylvania,itseemspossiblethathemighthavesomething altogetherdifferentinmind:ahybridregimethatwouldcombineIslamism withmilitarism.23OnlytimewilltellifthisisindeedwhatSisihasinmind,or whetherweareabouttowitnessoncemorethereturnoftheold militocraciesthatruledtheArabworldfordecades. * * Notes
1.StateInformationServices,EgyptMinistryofDefenseandMilitaryProduction, http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Templates?Articles/tmpArticles.aspx?ArtID=68083 2.Ibid. 3.RobertMcFarlane,GettingGovernanceRightinEgypt,WashingtonTimes,January 20,2014, http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/20/mcfarlanegettingitrightinegypt/ 4.http://www.alarabonline.org/?id=13894 5.SeeJacquesNeriah,SisiFever:WilltheGeneralbetheNextPresidentofEgypt? JerusalemIssueBrief,October29,2013, http://jcpa.org/article/sisifeverwillgeneralnextpresidentegypt/ 6.Ibid. 7.http://www.alarabonline.org/?id=13894BBCNews,Profile:EgyptArmedForcesChief AbdulFattahalSisi,January30,2014, http://www.bbc.co.uk/nrews/worldmiddleeast19256730?print=trueAlJazeera,Profile: GeneralAbdelFattahSisi,January27,2014, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/07/201373112752442652.html

8.Ibid. 9.AidaN.Awad,AnOpenLettertoAlSisy,February10,2014, http://aidanawad.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/anopenlettertoalsisy/ 10.AidaN.Awad,AlSisyforPresident,January27,2014, http://aidanawad.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/alsisyforpresident/ 11.Neriah,SisiFever. 12.http://www.alarabonline.org/?id=13894 13.RaymondIbrahim,Gen.Sisi:ReligiousDiscourseGreatestChallengeFacing Egypt,MiddleEastForum,January15,2014, http://www.meforum.org/3743/sisiegyptislam 14.http://www.alarabonline.org/?id=13894 15.AlMasryAlYoum,July10,2013,http://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/details/326381 16.Awad,AlSisyforPresident. 17.http://www.alarabonline.org/?id=13894 18.Neriah,SisiFever. 19.LallyWeymouth,RareInterviewwithEgyptianGen.AbdelFatahalSissi, WashingtonPost,August3,2013, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/rareinterviewwithegyptiangenabd elfatahalsissi/2013/08/03/a77eb37cfbc411e2a369d1954abcb7e3_story.html 20.JacquesNeriah,AftertheMuslimBrotherhoodinEgypt,IsHamasinGazaNextin Line?JerusalemIssueBrief,October1,2013, http://jcpa.org/article/muslimbrotherhoodegypthamasgazanextline/openlettersent toWashingtonPostwritersErinCunninghamandAbigailHauslohnercopiedtothe authorofthisarticle. 21.JacquesNeriah,EgyptsTurntoRussia,JerusalemCenterBlog,October30,2013, http://jcpa.org/egyptsturntorussia/ 22.TomRollins,ThePopularRepressionofEgyptianJournalists,NOWLebanon, February8,2014, https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/534558thepopularrepressionofegyptian journalists 23.RobertSpringborg,SisisIslamistAgendaforEgypt,ForeignAffairs,July28,2013, http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/139605/robertspringborg/sisisislamistagendafor egypt Publication:JerusalemIssueBriefs FiledUnder:Egypt,TheMiddleEast Tags:AbdElFattahElSisi,EgyptianFieldMarshal,Sisi

AboutCol.(ret.)Dr.JacquesNeriah
Col.(ret.)Dr.JacquesNeriah,aspecialanalystfortheMiddleEastatthe JerusalemCenterforPublicAffairs,wasformerlyForeignPolicyAdvisor toPrimeMinisterYitzhakRabinandDeputyHeadforAssessmentof IsraeliMilitaryIntelligence.

Seemoreat: http://jcpa.org/article/egyptianfieldmarshalabdelfattahelsisiprofile/#st hash.OWFPGq1O.dpuf