Abdel Fattah El-Sisi versus Gamal Abdel Nasser

Abdel Fattah El-Sisi versus Gamal Abdel Nasser

Dr. Jassim Taqui

When the late Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser revolted against a corrupt monarchist regime of King Farooq, the Arab world was divided and in a state of decay. Nasser not only emerged as the loved President of Egypt, his charisma, and slogan of unifying the Arabs in one state made him the undisputed leader of the Arabs.

Now, let us come to the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He emerged during the so-called Arab Spring in 2011. The schemers of the Spring were many. The banned Muslim Brotherhood (MB) managed to hijack the revolution.

The misrule of former Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi was mammoth to the extent that millions of the protesters assembled in the Liberation Square threatening to attack the Presidency if Mursi did not resign. 

At this critical moment, El- Sisi intervened to save the day. Another people’s revolution of  June 30, 2013, emerged.  El-Sisi was elected President and assumed office on 8th June 2014.

Within a short time, El-Sisi emerged as a world statesman. More importantly, El-Sisi- like Gamal Abdel Nasser- won the hearts and the minds of Arab masses throughout the Arab World. This feat is extremely important since the Arab world needed a leader of  substance. Compare the leadership of Nasser and that of El-Sisi and see the striking similarity of leadership qualities.

El-Sisi assumed power at a critical phase of the contemporary Arab history. Like Nasser, El-Sisi lifted the spirit of the Arabs who were at a receiving end.

On international level, Nasser nationalized Suez Canal. El-Sisi built a parallel Suez Canal in just 10 months despite a grim security situation and difficult economic conditions.

Both leaders introduced transparency, discipline, and  political and economic reforms.

However, El-Sisi inherited  much more difficult problems and teething  troubles due to a changed Middle East. Yet, El-Sisi proved that despite the odds, he could tackle those complications with will-power and dedication.

What characterizes El-Sisi is his self-confidence and the resolve to live the problems and taming them. This reminds me of the following Rumi quote, “Be empty of worrying. Think of who created thought.”