Egyptians are angry with American media reporting about Egypt and President al-Sisi.  In an article on October 8, the New York Times focuses on the Egyptian cult of personality around President al-Sisi. On the other hand, the Chinese businesswoman Mary Lai wants to build relations between China and Egypt and thus sees no need to highlight such a cult. It is too much of a critique in a period that there is a need to support Egypt’s economy.

Egyptians has had a leadership cult since Pharaonic days, whereby leaders are hailed by their subordinates and allies. This has been an element with all of Egypt’s previous presidents and is now happening now in regards to President al-Sisi.

(Source: Flikr Creative Commons)

The New York Times presents a typical example of this: President al-Sisi ended his speech on September 24 before the United Nations with “Long Live Egypt.” Egyptian Sociologist and political activist Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim said his speech was “good.” His ending – ‘Long Live Egypt” – is something many other national leaders also would have done. However, after that follows the vicious comment: “What viewers back in Egypt could not see was that during the General Assembly, almost all of the diplomats present watched in amused silence as Mr. Sisi’s small entourage did the clapping in response to his chant. But in the Egyptian media the applause was sustained and unanimous, dramatizing a monopolization of power under Mr. Sisi.”

I find nothing wrong with al-Sisi’s entourage clapping, but it does become problematic with Egyptian media exaggerating, dramatizing it for their Egyptian audience. This is part of the Egyptian personality cult which is ridiculed in the West and which in turn upsets Egyptians. Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim calls this ‘media hype’ but also a reflection that al-Sisi’s approval rating climbed from 65% to 85% of the population. “These are not estimations, as this is carried out through monthly professional sampling by the Ibn Khaldoun Center. This is our al-Sisi approval meter,” Dr. Ibrahim said.

Al-Sisi has clearly shown that “he refuses to bend to Western requests or pressures,” stated the New York Times. This is not surprising, as Egyptians have a strong national pride and critiques make many rally around their president. Critiques often highlight existing weak points. The personality cult cultivated by Egyptian media is definitely such a weak point. Less media hype would certainly serve Egypt better, but why not focus on the need of economic cooperation? That is the Chinese approach.  Popular belief is that starting a business in Egypt is a mission impossible. Mary Lai agrees it is not easy, but also starting a business in Egypt today is “a mission possible”, she writes. For more information please click here.  

Cornelis Hulsman