Ruler to some and redeemer to others, Egypt's newly elected President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi grimaces the intimidating mission of piloting a turbulent Egypt that has witnessed disputes knock down to two presidents in three years.
Egypt's former military chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was sworn in recently as President, promising to spark the country through essential alterations. Regardless of the political turmoil Egypt has faced in recent years, el-Sisi fêted the transition from interim President Adly Mansour.
In its next phase, Egypt "will witness a total rise on both internal and external fronts, to compensate what we have missed and correct the mistakes of the past," the president said.
In an address in front of the Supreme Constitutional Court's General Assembly in Cairo, the newly elected President said "In the long history that goes back thousands of years, our homeland did not witness democratic transfer of power. Now, for the first time, the President-elect shakes hands with the outgoing President, and together they sign a power transfer document in an unprecedented occasion."
It was a magical moment when El-Sisi won 96% of the vote in last month's presidential election for a four-year term. An energetic gala exploded in Cairo's Tahrir Square, fulfilled with sparklers and balloons carrying his image, when he was professed as the winner.
Washington is looking forward to working with el-Sisi "to advance our strategic partnership and the many interests shared by the United States and Egypt," the White House press secretary said.
The White House said while it is delighted that international spectators were endorsed to participate in the election, "we also share concerns raised by observation groups about the restrictive political environment in which this election took place."
El-Sisi's sole opponent, Hamdeen Sabahy, received 3.9% of the vote, the country's election commission said. Sabahy agreed defeat but raised questions about the political process.
According to the Egypt's staterun Ahram Online news agency, accusations were made that Sabahy campaign reps were lashed out and imprisoned, and that el-Sisi's representatives were certified inside polling stations.
"We cannot give any credibility or ratification to the announced numbers of turnout or results," Sabahy said last month. "The announced results are an insult to the intelligence of the Egyptians."
He said his election after a landslide win in May was "a historic moment", and pledged no reconciliation with those who had "committed violence".
The retired field marshal defeated President Mohammed Morsi last July. He has since been chasing a shutdown on Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, which insisted a boycott of the elections.
