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WORLD NEWS Thursday 1 February 2018

Egypt’s leader issues tough warning after election criticism

By HAMZA HENDAWI his vehemence appeared
Associated Press to suggest that any ques-
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s tioning of the election was
president on Wednesday considered equivalent to
angrily threatened to take destabilizing the country.
strong action against any- Grim-faced and at times
one trying to disrupt the shouting, el-Sissi implied he
country’s stability in a warn- would launch an intensi-
ing that followed calls by fied crackdown. “There will
opposition politicians for a be other measures against
boycott of upcoming presi- anyone who believes he
dential elections. can mess with (Egypt’s) se-
The sharp warning by a vis- curity ... I fear no one but
ibly furious President Abdel- God,” he said.
Fattah el-Sissi was a signal “Whoever wants to mess
that authorities will tolerate with Egypt’s security and
no questioning of the legiti- wreck it must get rid of me
macy of the March 26-28 first because by God Al-
vote. The general-turned- mighty I will not allow it. I
president said he would not would die so that 100 mil-
allow a repeat of the 2011 lion can live,” he added.
uprising. That was a reference to the
Those calling for a boycott In this Dec. 11, 2017, file photo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, speaks during a news “popular mandate” that el-
have called the election conference in Cairo, Egypt. Sissi asked for to fight terror-
a farce after a string of Associated Press ism in July 2013, just after he
would-be candidates were mockery on social media. dential candidate and two ent el-Sissi with “demands” led the military’s ouster of
arrested, forced out of the Criticism of the vote could top campaign aides for a pertaining to the country’s Islamist Mohammed Morsi,
race or dropped out in pro- taint what is seen as el-Sis- now-arrested presidential political future. Sadat is a Egypt’s first freely elected
test. It had appeared el-Sis- si’s inevitable victory and hopeful, also called for a nephew of assassinated president whose one year
si might be the only one to open the door to wider dis- boycott and urged Egyp- Egyptian leader Anwar Sa- in office proved divisive.
run until at the last minute sent, which his government tians not to recognize the dat. Millions took to the streets
on Monday a little-known has largely shut down over vote’s outcome. El-Sissi did not directly men- in response to his call,
politician stepped forward the past four years. One would-be candidate tion the boycott calls dur- and el-Sissi then launched
to enter the race as a face- The boycott call came forced out of the race, ing his speech at a cere- Egypt’s largest and harsh-
saver. Tuesday from a coalition former lawmaker Moham- mony marking the launch est crackdown on dissent
That prevented the em- of opposition parties and med Anwar Sadat, called of a giant offshore gas field. in decades, arresting thou-
barrassment of a one- public figures. Earlier this on the opposition to stage But the timing a day after sands, mostly Islamists but
candidate election, but week, five opposition fig- a peaceful march on the the calls suggested he was also secular pro-democra-
also sparked considerable ures, including a 2012 presi- presidential palace to pres- referring to them — and cy activists. q

African leaders nearly demanded public apology from Trump

By ELIAS MESERET palled” by Trump’s report- nent in March, his first in that aid and a shift from hu- “letter of correspondence”
Associated Press ed comparison of African role. The letter emerged manitarian assistance to from Trump and “we’ve
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) countries to a dirty toilet. after Trump met with Rwan- counterterrorism. taken due note of it.”
— African leaders this week It warns that the strategic da’s president and new Trump has said he didn’t The draft declaration,
came close to demand- partnership between Af- African Union chairman use the vulgar language, however, shows how the
ing that President Donald rica and the U.S. is at risk Paul Kagame at the World while others present say he 55-nation continental body
Trump publicly apologize because of Trump’s “racist Economic Forum in Davos, did. came close to speaking
for his vulgar remark about and xenophobic behav- Switzerland last week. Ahead of the summit, the out.
the continent “that de- ior.” The African leaders Many African leaders had chairman of the African It says African leaders were
fies all forms of diplomatic appear to have changed been outraged by Trump’s Union Commission, Moussa “dismayed and shocked
etiquette,” according to a their mind on issuing the comment last month, after Faki Mahamat, declared by the increasingly consis-
draft declaration obtained draft declaration because nearly a year of little at- that “Africa cannot keep tent trend from the Trump
by The Associated Press. of a Trump letter to them tention by his administra- quiet” about Trump’s administration to deni-
The draft, created during last week pledging his tion to the world’s second “shocking” remarks. But grate people of African
an African Union summit on “deep respect” and saying most populous continent. by Monday he had toned descent and other people
Sunday and Monday, says Secretary of State Rex Til- Concerns have been wide- down his stance, telling re- of color thereby promoting
heads of state and gov- lerson would make an “ex- spread over proposed porters only that African racism, xenophobia and
ernment are “deeply ap- tended visit” to the conti- deep cuts to U.S. foreign leaders had received a bigotry.”q