The soldier who overthrew the political leader who appointed him: Who is Abdel Fattah el-Sisi?

Sisi had already paved the way for him to run for a third time by amending the Egyptian Constitution in 2019 and increasing the presidential term from four to six years.

Born in Cairo in November 1954, Sisi was one of fourteen children raised in a conservative family.

The son of a shopkeeper, Sisi decided to pursue a military career at an early age.

He climbed the social ladder one by one in the military-ruled country.

Sisi, who spent most of his life out of the public eye, came to prominence as the Egyptian Chief of General Staff and Minister of Defense in 2012.

In fact, this surprise promotion was given to him by Egypt's first democratically elected President, Mohammed Morsi, just one year after the 'Arab Spring' process.

Abd el-Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi (born 19 November 1954) is an Egyptian politician and retired military officer who has served as the sixth and current president of Egypt since 2014. Before retiring as a general in the Egyptian military in 2014, Sisi served as Egypt's deputy prime minister from 2013 to 2014, minister of defense from 2012 to 2013, and director of military intelligence from 2010 to 2012. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in January 2014.

At that time, Sisi was portrayed by the media as a devout Muslim aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood movement, from which Morsi came.

This perception was built on Sisi's family ties with Abbas Sisi, a student of the Islamist group's founder, Hasan Al Banna.

Morsi was dismissed by the general he appointed

Sisi, who was partially educated in England and the USA, rose in rank and became the head of military intelligence after becoming the commander of the military region in the north of Egypt.

Following mass uprisings in July 2013, in which millions of Egyptians demanded Morsi's resignation, Sisi issued an ultimatum to the former president and his cabinet.

Acting 'strategically', Sisi did not openly call for Morsi to resign, instead calling on all politicians to "meet the people's demands" within 48 hours.

Because if Mohammed Morsi refused, the army, which was responsible for the post-Mubarak transition process, would have to "announce a road map for the future" and put an end to the political tension that started since 2011.

As expected, Musri rejected the calls and announced that he would not resign.

Islamist President Morsi was soon dismissed, then arrested and imprisoned by his own appointed Chief of General Staff.

Egyptian security forces killed hundreds of Morsi supporters who gathered in Cairo's Rabaat al-Adawiya Square in August 2013.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) described the killing of these demonstrators as a possible "crime against humanity."

Pressures against the Muslim Brotherhood, described as a 'terrorist organization' by Sisi, have continued since then.

Gaza war brought Sisi to the fore

The war between Israel and Hamas, which broke out in October 2023, brought Gaza's neighbor Egypt, and therefore Sisi, to the diplomatic scene.

Sisi has flatly rejected the mass displacement of Palestinians.

On the other hand, he mediated aid deliveries to Gaza and hostage negotiations.

Despite his shortcomings, according to Western experts, Sisi is seen by many international leaders as the 'guarantor of stability and security' in the region.

Who is Abdel Fattah el-Sisi?

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was born on November 19, 1954 in Cairo, Egypt. Sisi, like many Egyptians, belongs to a religious family. His father is Hussein Khalil el Sisi. His father, known as Hasan, has shops in Cemaliye. He likes to listen to Egyptian artist Umm Kulthum.

He graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1977. He started his career as a lieutenant in the mechanized infantry battalion in 1977. In 1987, he became a staff member at the Egyptian Staff Officer Academy. He graduated from the Staff Officer Academy in England in 1992. After becoming the Commander of the Independent Mechanized Brigade and 23 Mechanized Division, he also served as the Military Attaché of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2003, he completed the Combat Course at Nasser's Academy of Military Sciences and the Postgraduate Military Academy Scholarship. He graduated from the US Army War College in 2006.

In 2008, he became the commander of the Egyptian Northern Military District-Alexandria and later the Chief of Military Intelligence and Reconnaissance.

Abdul Fattah Sisi, who was acquainted with many Muslim Brotherhood members due to his many years of service in the intelligence service, held consultative meetings with the leaders of many Islamist parties and groups in Egypt after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.

On 12 August 2012, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi gave Abdel Fattah el Sisi the post of "Minister of Defense" in the Egyptian Council of Ministers and the post of Chief of General Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces. On January 27, 2014, he was promoted to field marshal in the Egyptian army.

On July 1, 2013, the Egyptian army gave an ultimatum to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi to resolve the political crisis in the country within 48 hours. On July 3, 2013, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi overthrew the government in a coup. He also arrested many Muslim Brotherhood members who were tried for inciting violence and disrupting public peace.

He resigned from the army on March 26, 2014. In 2014, he resigned from his positions as chairman of the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces and as Minister of Defense of Egypt, and announced his candidacy for the presidency. He was elected president by receiving 95 percent of the votes in the presidential elections held on 26, 27 and 28 May 2014.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi married Entissar Amer in 1977. He has 4 children named Mustafa, Mahmud, Hasan and Aya.