“Egypt Wants Tourists, Not Terrorists:” My Tea with Sissi

Egyptian journalist Amr Khalifa imagines an interview with President Abdel El Fattah El Sissi in 2022.

by Amr Khalifa

Cairo, May 28, 2022

After exactly eight years as the president of Egypt, Abdel El Fattah El Sissi is, again, on the cusp of sweeping to another presidential victory. Sissi’s first year in office witnessed a crackdown on Islamist elements and democracy advocates alike. By Christmas of that year, nearly 47,000 called prison home, including nearly 7000 college students. Three years into his rule, an attempt on Sissi’s life was blamed on the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, resulting in a massive crackdown against the group. Some 5700 alleged terrorist were killed throughout Cairo, Alexandria, and the Suez, Giza, and Minya governates. The international response was largely muted.

Months later, Sissi swept to a second election victory, winning 97.8% of the vote in a race with an unprecedented 88% turnout. Having consolidated power through multiple constitutional referenda, as well as stacking parliament with his loyalists, Sissi has become the undisputed leader of Egypt.

Brimming with confidence, the president agreed to have afternoon tea with me to discuss his accomplishments and what lies ahead for Egypt.

The interview took place at a new Presidential Palace built by Sissi, adding to the many existing palaces for Egypt’s leader. The rules of the formal tea were militarily precise. The resulting conversation was no holds-barred: