Overview

Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi is the President of Egypt; serving since June 2014 after seizing power in a July 2013 military coup that overthrew Mohamed Morsi; Egypt's first democratically elected president. As Defense Minister and head of the Egyptian Armed Forces; Sisi led the coup and subsequently orchestrated the Rabaa massacre on August 14; 2013; in which Egyptian security forces killed at least 817 protesters (Human Rights Watch's conservative estimate) and potentially over 1;000 at the Rabaa al-Adawiya and al-Nahda Square sit-ins; making it one of the largest mass killings of demonstrators in modern history. Human Rights Watch described it as "one of the world's largest killings of demonstrators in a single day in recent history" and likely constituting crimes against humanity. Under Sisi's rule; Egypt has become one of the world's leading jailers of journalists and political prisoners; with an estimated 60;000 political prisoners held as of 2023. His government has overseen enforced disappearances; systematic torture in detention; extrajudicial killings; and severe restrictions on press freedom; civil society; and political opposition. Despite this record; Sisi has maintained strong relationships with the United States (receiving $1.3 billion annually in military aid); France; and other Western nations. A federal investigation revealed that the Egyptian government funneled $10 million to the Trump 2016 campaign through a Cairo bank; though no charges were filed. Sisi pushed through a 2019 constitutional amendment allowing him to remain in power until 2030.

Key Affiliations

Controversies & Concerns

Related Investigations (2)

Known Associates & Connections

Sources & Documentation

3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports