By: Ahmed Fathi
New York: Well, folks, it looks like the Egyptian-Americans community in New York and New Jersey is going to have to pack away their flags and heart-shaped confetti this September. That’s right: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the man, the myth, the "heartthrob" of a certain segment of Egyptian expats, has decided not to grace the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with his presence for the fourth consecutive year. Instead, he’s sending Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to deliver Egypt’s speech on the last day—because why show up yourself when you can outsource the job?
The real tragedy here, of course, is not the missed opportunity to tackle global crises or engage in meaningful diplomatic dialogue, but the heartbreak felt by Sisi’s American fan club. For those unfamiliar, this is the group that eagerly awaits his arrival like children waiting for Santa Claus or the Pope-only, in this case, Santa’s delivering authoritarianism with a side of human rights violations and economic policies failures. The sight of these supporters, lining up outside his Manhattan hotel, blowing kisses and waving to the balcony where Sisi might, just might, bless them with a holy wave, has become a kind of yearly tradition. But alas, not this year.
One can almost hear the collective gasp of disappointment. How will they express their undying adoration for the man who has single-handedly “saved” Egypt by locking up tens of thousands of political opponents? How will they manage without their annual pilgrimage to see the benevolent ruler in his hotel suite? The only thing more dramatic than Sisi’s absence might be the emotional aftermath of his fanbase. They’ll have to make do with recycled YouTube clips of his speeches—at least until next year.
But let’s talk about why Sisi’s absence is, as the kids say, *not that deep*. Sure, the Middle East is on fire, and Egypt is central to many of the region’s crises. There’s the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the civil war in Sudan, the economic implosion of Egypt itself, and the ever-volatile situation in Libya. But who needs to address these pressing issues on a global stage when you can send your foreign minister to do it? After all, it’s just the United Nations, and Egypt’s just another cog in the geopolitical machine, right? Besides, Sisi’s track record suggests that his focus has always been less about solving problems and more about maintaining the illusion of stability—at least for his supporters abroad.
For those paying attention, Sisi’s decision to skip the UNGA doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Since 2020, he’s been a no-show, citing everything from the COVID-19 pandemic to more convenient scheduling conflicts. This year, however, is especially odd. You’d think with the increasing pressure on Egypt—both internally and externally—he’d be eager to make a splash at the UNGA. But no, he’s staying home, leaving his supporters (and the rest of the world) to speculate about why. Could it be that Sisi is simply avoiding the heat? Perhaps. After all, when your country’s economy is collapsing faster than a Jenga tower and your international reputation is taking hit after hit, maybe it's best to lay low for a while.
Consider, for example, Egypt’s cozy relationship with former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who, in a scandal that sounds like a rejected Netflix script, was convicted in a jury trial at the federal court in New York of accepting gold bars, cash, and luxury cars in exchange for political favors—courtesy of Egyptian intelligence. and Egyptian American businessman Wael Hanna This isn't exactly the kind of PR a president wants to address on the world stage. Add to that the messy legal situation of Pierre Girgis, another Egyptian-American accused of attempting to infiltrate NY Police Departments and spying on dissidents in the U.S., and you can see why Sisi might want to skip town—or at least skip New York.
And let's not forget the bombshell report that Sisi's government allegedly funneled $10 million into Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. You know, just your run-of-the-mill foreign interference in U.S. elections. With all this swirling around, it’s no wonder Sisi would rather avoid the limelight at a time when international scrutiny is at an all-time high. The timing is just *perfect*, isn’t it?
But for all the drama surrounding Sisi’s absence, the reality is that his decision to send a stand-in won’t change much for Egypt—or for the rest of us, for that matter. Whether he’s physically present or not, the country’s policies remain the same: a repressive regime, an economy in freefall, and a government that’s more concerned with silencing critics than addressing the root causes of its problems. Badr Abdelatty speech, will be delivered on the last day of the UNGA, will likely be a carefully scripted exercise in diplomacy, full of empty promises and vague platitudes about peace and stability.
So, to the Egyptian-American Sisi supporters in New York and New Jersey: Don’t fret. You’ll have your chance to swoon over your president again next year. As for the rest of us, we’ll keep watching as the world’s autocrats continue to play their games on the international stage—whether they show up to the party or not.
After all, skipping the UNGA is just another move in the autocrat’s playbook: avoid accountability, dodge the tough questions, and keep the photo ops to a minimum. The only difference this time is that we all saw it coming.
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