Egypt’s army chief Sisi clear to run for presidency

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Egypt’s military body on Monday endorsed a presidential bid by the country’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, state media reported. The announcement comes just hours after Sisi was promoted to field marshal.

Sisi has yet to publicly announce his intentions but he enjoys wide popularity among many Egyptians who see him as a savior after removing Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last July after millions took to the streets demanding him to step down.

Although a member of the military cannot run for the country’s top job, analysts said Sisi’s promotion may be a prelude to leaving the military to run for the presidency.

Retired General Hossam Sweilam, an analyst who remains close to the military, said the promotion was meant as a final honour.

“This is a belated move by the state to honour the man who removed the Muslim Brotherhood from power,” he said. “This is to pave the way for him to leave the military while holding the highest title and contest elections.”

Popular and lack of alternatives

If Sisi runs in the elections, now due by the end of April, he would likely sweep the vote, given his popularity among a significant sector of the public, the lack of alternatives, the almost universal support in Egypt’s media and the powerful atmosphere of intimidation against any criticism of the general in the country.

Over the weekend, large crowds turned out in rallies calling for Sisi to run, in a show heavily orchestrated by military supporters. At the same time, security forces cracked down on Islamists protesting to demand the reinstatement of ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, in fighting that killed nearly 50 protesters — a sign of the violent divisions in the country.

A new chapter?

A Sisi run would be a new turn in Egypt’s turmoil, which began with the 2011 uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak — a veteran of the military who ruled for nearly 30 years — in the name of bringing civilian rule, reform and greater democracy.

The country’s freest elections ever that followed brought to power the Islamists and Morsi as president, only for a large portion of the population to turn against him, accusing his Muslim Brotherhood of trying to monopolise power. Massive protests prompted Sisi to depose Morsi on July 3.

Since then, the country has seen a wave of pro-military nationalist fervor and a return to prominence of security agencies that under Mubarak and even after were widely hated for abuses of power. Police have waged a fierce crackdown on the Brotherhood, arrested thousands of members and killing hundreds.

The heavy-handed security crackdown, jailing of activists and intimidation of critics have sparked fears among some of a return to Egypt’s police state.

The presidential elections come against the backdrop of an Islamic militant insurgency that has spread since Morsi’s ouster, with a rise in attacks that initially intensified in the Sinai Peninsula but have since taken place in the capital, Cairo, and other cities, mainly targeting police and the military.

On 25th December 2013 the government branded the Brotherhood a terrorist organisation, accusing it of orchestrating the violence. The group denies the charge, saying it is aimed at justifying the crackdown.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP)