Egypt's Sisi faces major concerns of security and reconciliation

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, June 4, 2014
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Restoring security and paving the road for reconciliation with the banned Islamist Muslim Brotherhood represent major concerns of the citizens and key challenges for the Egyptian president-elect Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The new Egyptian president shoulders huge security challenges, terrorism, Islamist insurgents based mainly in the restive Sinai peninsula, and the violent protests which mounted after the ouster of his predecessor Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi in July.

As both challenges are apparently interrelated, tackling the reconciliation file would help to minimize the security hazards.

But, Ahmed Bann, political researcher at Nile Center for Political Studies, said the environment isn't convenient for real reconciliation currently, because the reconciliation requires two equal foot sides.

The Brotherhood has to "begin negotiation with a country not a group or movement," Bann added, arguing "a national dialogue" could be better.

Egypt has been engulfed by political turmoil and Brotherhood protests after the ouster of Morsi, and the later security crackdown on his supporters' sit-in which left at least 1,000 killed.

Such demonstrations are regarded as illegal, since they do not conform to a protest law requiring organizers to give three days' notice of a protest. Thousands of pro-Morsi loyalists have been detained, and hundreds have received death sentence over murdering and violence.

The country also has been rocked by a series of bombings and shootings carried out by militants. Official reports said militants have killed about 500 people since the overthrow of Morsi. Most militant attacks have been in the lawless Sinai Peninsula, but in recent months brazen attacks have also been launched farther afield in the Nile Delta and in the capital Cairo.

In televised interviews, Sisi vowed respect to the judiciary, but Bann insisted that "the new president should reconsider the swift mass trial as priority for starting real reconciliation."

The reconciliation is a sensitive and dangerous challenge which requires wisdom to avoid more perplexity or violence in the country, Bann added.

In his congratulatory telegraph, Saudi King Abdullah urged Sisi to open up to the opposition, encouraging him to "accept the other opinion through a national dialogue with all parties whose hands have not been stained by the blood of the innocents."

There will be no reconciliation with people inciting violence, said Mahmoud Kholy, a security expert with state-back Cabinet Information Center.

"Terrorism could be eradicated either by security hits, or through changing the ideological tracks of the hardliners, and the later takes much time," Kholy added.

The political dialogue and agreements can hold between the state and the political parties which believe in legal and peaceful channels, in accordance with the law and the constitution, he added.

Combating terrorism especially on the borders, confiscating weapons and uprooting the crimes hideouts will top Sisi's priorities to attract investments and help to revive the country's ailing economy, said the security expert.

Still there are remains of political Islamist organizations, namely Brotherhood, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, an al-Qaida-inspired group based in Sinai, Tawheed wal Jihad (Monotheism and Holy War) group who launch terrorist attacks against the police and the army personnel, the most dangerous elements that the new president has to handle, he added.

Kholy expected that the main topic in the first speech of the new president which is due on Monday will be resorting security, while the political expert Bann, said the inclusive of all parties no matter of their affiliation should came parallel with seeking security.

Million of Egyptians who cast their votes for Sisi, hope the new president would help restore security and stability in the turmoil-stricken country that saw the ouster of two presidents in three years.

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