Why Is Trump Helping Egypt’s Dictator Entrench His Power?

Source: Carnegie

Author(s): Michele Dunne

Original Link: https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/04/08/why-is-trump-helping-egypt-s-dictator-entrench-his-power-pub-78823

As someone who has watched the Egyptian people struggle against dictators for years, it is hard to fathom the fact that President Donald Trump will welcome Egypt’s brutal military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for a White House visit this week.

Eight years after Egyptians went to the streets to remove 30-year ruler Hosni Mubarak and only weeks after Algerians did the same to remove 20-year autocrat Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the White House is betting on Sisi. It’s an endorsement Egypt’s president-for-life will use to entrench his grip on power: Showing he has Trump’s enthusiastic support will help Sisi force any potential critics in the army or elsewhere to follow suit.


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