Egyptians celebrate al-Sisi's inauguration while critics worry about crackdown
- 10 years ago
Celebrations in Cairo went on long into the night after the swearing in of former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as president.
But there was a low-key attendance by Western allies. They are more concerned that a crackdown on the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement might be extended to all forms of opposition.
But that was not worrying his supporters in Tahrir Square on Sunday night:
“Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will fulfil the hopes of all the Egyptians here, we hope he will be a good leader…. he managed a large military establishment before, so he understands well what he is supposed to do, and he understands the aspirations of the Egyptian people,” said one man who had brought his baby son with him to celebrate.
“Egypt would otherwise be lost without al-Sisi,” said another supporter. “I thank him a lot, and I am very happy, because he stood against the aggression and saved Egypt.”
The new president has a long to do list starting with the economy.
Correspondent Mohammed Shaikhibrahim was in Cairo reporting for euronews:
“ Al-Sisi in his first speech, has promised his people prosperity and development, on the condition they work hard and have patience. He also stressed the need to combat acts of violence to achieve stability, which he said was the basis of the modern state.”
But there was a low-key attendance by Western allies. They are more concerned that a crackdown on the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement might be extended to all forms of opposition.
But that was not worrying his supporters in Tahrir Square on Sunday night:
“Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will fulfil the hopes of all the Egyptians here, we hope he will be a good leader…. he managed a large military establishment before, so he understands well what he is supposed to do, and he understands the aspirations of the Egyptian people,” said one man who had brought his baby son with him to celebrate.
“Egypt would otherwise be lost without al-Sisi,” said another supporter. “I thank him a lot, and I am very happy, because he stood against the aggression and saved Egypt.”
The new president has a long to do list starting with the economy.
Correspondent Mohammed Shaikhibrahim was in Cairo reporting for euronews:
“ Al-Sisi in his first speech, has promised his people prosperity and development, on the condition they work hard and have patience. He also stressed the need to combat acts of violence to achieve stability, which he said was the basis of the modern state.”