Egypt: Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi sworn in as Egypt’s new President

Egypt's new President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi
(Image: Daily News Egypt)

After an impressive victory in Egypt’s second presidential elections since January 25Revolution has ousted a long-time leader Hosni Mubarak former Head of SCAF (Supreme Council of Armed Forces) and Egypt’s former Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has sworn in as a state’s President on Sunday, 8 July.

The official ceremony of inauguration of Egypt’s second democratically elected President was held in Cairo, first at the Supreme Constitutional Court and then in two Presidential Palaces, where power was officially transferred to the new state’s leader.

El-Sisi’s inauguration ceremony started in afternoon as Egypt’s new President arrived in the Supreme Constitutional Court, where the official results of the elections were announced and Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi has sworn in as a new President, vowing to restore Egypt’s stability and role in the world and bring Egyptians prosperity and development.

Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi took his presidential oath in the presence of Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour, Egypt’s Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and judges of the SCC. El-Sisi was the second Egyptian President after Mohamed Morsy who took an oath at Supreme Constitutional Court.

The ceremony was followed then by an official ceremony of handing over power from Egyptian interim President Adly Mansour to the newly elected President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. This part was held at the Presidential Ittihadeya Palace in Cairo’s Heliopolis and was attended by many high officials and representatives of the Arab, African and European countries and USA as well. It’s worth mentioning that while Western countries were represented mostly by the embassy figures and officials, Arab countries were represented by the heads of the states.

Adly Mansour, who officially handed over the power to El-Sisi, has delivered a speech to the new President and Egyptians claiming that the new President will achieve a lot as he has a great credit from Egyptians.

Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in his turn has stated in his short inauguration speech that his goal is a safe, secure and stable Egypt and prosperity of its people. El-Sisi stated that his presidential term will be inclusive and he will try to include all the political powers and social shifts and factions into the process of governing the country in order to achieve the highest goals in reforming Egypt and bringing it to the prosperity and stability. El-Sisi also stated that Egyptians will finally “reap the fruits of the two revolutions”, referring to January 25 Revolution in 2011 and June 30 Revolution in 2013, when Islamist backed President Mohamed Morsy was ousted.

The speeches of the new President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and former interim President Adly Mansour, who ruled the country during a hard transitional period, were followed by signing of an official document of handing over power to El-Sisi.

After the ceremony at the Ittihadeya Palace was over, the inauguration was followed by the next official ceremony held at the Kobbeh Presidential Palace in Cairo.

Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis inauguration ceremony was atteneded by many people and his supporters, as the people have gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and in downtown and in many squares of other Egyptian cities as well. Security measures taken during the day of inauguration were unprecedented, as additional military troops and security forces were deployed at the sites of holding the ceremony, and the city was also patrolled from the air by the military helicopters. The day went smooth and without any clashes, despite the continuous rallies of Mohamed Morsy’s and Muslim Brotherhood supporters, being held all over the country, but it’s worth mentioning that their numbers have decreased significantly.