Following the recent overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist rebels, a hashtag emerged on Egyptian social media urging President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt to take heed. This reflects the growing concern among Egyptian leaders regarding the potential spread of revolutionary fervor in the region.
Both Egypt and Syria have experienced turbulent political landscapes since the Arab Spring uprisings that began in late 2010. The Syrian revolt culminated in al-Assad's ousting, while Egypt saw the fall of longtime president Hosni Mubarak, followed by el-Sisi's military takeover in 2013. As a result, el-Sisi and other regional leaders remain cautious about the rise of Islamist groups, particularly in light of recent developments in Syria.
In the wake of al-Assad's departure, Egyptian security forces detained at least 30 Syrian refugees in Cairo who were celebrating his fall. Additionally, the Egyptian government imposed stricter travel requirements for Syrians seeking to enter the country.
El-Sisi has been making a series of public addresses to defend his administration, asserting that he has not been involved in bloodshed, despite his controversial human rights record, which includes a massacre of protesters in 2013.
Since the change in power in Syria, Egypt has intensified crackdowns on political dissent, arresting individuals viewed as opponents, including the director of a prominent rights organization and social media users critical of el-Sisi. The political atmosphere remains tense, with many Egyptians dissatisfied due to ongoing economic crises exacerbated by external factors and government mismanagement.
Ahmed al-Mansour, an Egyptian who joined Syrian rebels, has vocally criticized el-Sisi online, leading to his arrest by Syrian authorities shortly after he made threats against the Egyptian president. His current status remains uncertain, but his detention has not quelled dissent among other Egyptians who continue to express their grievances.
Despite initial support for el-Sisi following his military ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood, public sentiment has shifted as economic struggles deepen. El-Sisi has faced backlash for failing to deliver promised prosperity, even as inflation and poverty rates rise significantly in Egypt.
The Egyptian government is cautious about the recent developments in Syria, particularly concerning the rise of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. While Egypt may not have favored al-Assad, it has preferred his regime's perceived stability over the potential chaos that could arise from an Islamist government.
Egypt has maintained a careful distance from Syria's new leadership and has urged other nations to remain cautious about lifting sanctions against the country too quickly. Egyptian officials have expressed concerns that Syria could become a breeding ground for instability and terrorism in the region.
As anti-Islamist sentiment persists in Egypt, so does growing discontent with el-Sisi's leadership, placing him in a precarious position amidst ongoing regional turmoil.