REPORT: A closer look at Egyptian Army Commander Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi

Abdel Fatah Saeed Hussein Khalil Al-Sisi is the Commander-In-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces and Minister of Defense since the 12th of August 2012 appointed by ousted President Mohammad Morsi.

He graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1977. He served in the mechanized infantry, and was appointed as leader of the Northern Military Region-Alexandria.

Sisi, born in 1954 in Cairo, is a big fan of Jamal Abdel Nasser, reports state.

On the 1st of July 2013, the Egyptian army delivered an ultimatum that required Mohammad Morsi to resolve the political crisis in 48 hours.

On the 3rd of July 2013, having failed to meet the deadline, Egypt's armed forces overthrew Morsi, installing Adli Mansour as the interim head of state in his place.

Far from a severe military figure, he is a charismatic presence, often seen smiling and known for delivering speeches on emotive topics.

Al-Sisi was the youngest member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt.

His popularity among anti-Morsi protesters is evidence of a significant shift in Gen. Sisi's public image.

In April 2012, he hit the headlines after issuing a statement to defend the behavior of the armed forces during protests in Tahrir Square in 2011.

There was widespread anger at the military when women were forced to undergo "virginity tests".

Gen. Sisi said "the virginity-test procedure was carried out to protect the girls from rape as well as to protect the soldiers and officers from rape accusations."


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