Is Sisi’s Popularity Slipping?

Egypt’s Economy Still Struggling

When Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was elected in 2014, he was treated as a conquering hero. Egyptians even gave out chocolates wrapped in gold paper with his face on the cover. There was hope that the former military chief would stabilize the country and get the Egyptian economy back on track.

Now the honeymoon is wearing off. Jihadist groups are gaining strength in the Sinai Peninsula, and the Egyptian economy shows no sign of improvement. Maha Yahya, an expert on Egypt at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, tells The Media Line that criticism of Sisi is starting to be heard on the streets of Cairo. At the same time he remains firmly entrenched in power.