US Republican party lends support to Egypt's al-Sisi

A US Republican delegation visiting Cairo, Egypt has supported president Fattah al-Sisi saying he was the “right man at the right time” for Egypt. Washington had earlier criticised alleged rights abuses in the country.

According to the Middle East Eye news, the six-man delegation led by Hawkish senator Lindsey Graham said it is backing al-Sisi in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group.

He said al-Sisi was the right man at the right time to lead Egypt as the Islamic State group had become a “nightmare for the entire region”.

“There is a desire that Daesh be destroyed in Sinai… the president has expressed his desire to destroy Daesh,” Senator Graham added.

Speaking on the human rights situation in the country, Graham gave a stark contrast to the present US administration, which has regularly criticised reported human rights abuses in Egypt.
He said the country is a new democracy coming out of chaos.

“He [al-Sisi] has to balance security with the rule of law… there are elements that come to Egypt to disrupt the nation and there are many people coming here to help you. Don’t treat them all in the same way.”

Rights groups have accused Egypt’s security services of carrying out illegal detentions, forced disappearances of activist and torture of detainees since the ousting of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

A police crackdown targeting Morsi supporters had left hundreds dead and tens of thousands jailed. Hundred more have been sentenced to death including Morsi.

US Secretary of State, John Kerry had in March said there was a “deterioration in the human rights situation in Egypt in recent weeks and months”.

Ties between Washington and Cairo had deteriorated after Morsi’s ousting.