Sisi and the challenge of the economy

Several media outlets shed light today on Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's economic challenges if he is to run for president.

In today's edition of the London-based Al-Hayat pan-Arab daily, the paper claims that Sisi is relying on a "major national project that bets on Arab Gulf support."

According to the newspaper, Sisi's economic plan is based on research conducted by Egyptian and Gulf research centers. This research, according to an anonymous source, showed that during their brief rule of Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood allied themselves with Iran and Turkey, both of which have their own interests in the region.

Countries supportive of Sisi's economic plans, as cited by Al-Hayat, include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Emirates, which, according to the paper, believe that "Egypt should play an important role in restoring the Middle East."

"The Gulf vision is now clear that the Egyptian leadership is not facing a battle on its own. All Gulf countries are in the same impasse in light of Arab issues. Egypt has to play a role in stabilizing Syria and developing collaborations with Gulf countries on that front," the source said, adding that Egypt is also expected to play a role in striking a sectarian stability in the region and preventing a Sunni-Shia conflict.

This partnership, under Sisi's helm, would include Gulf contributions to the Suez Canal development project and the land passage linking Egypt to the Gulf. According to the anonymous source in Al-Hayat, Gulf funds under Sisi's leadership will cover budget deficits as well as arms transactions for the military.

The source added that the Gulf will support Sisi in the imminent economic crisis pertaining to energy and food, both in the short and long terms.

But the energy crisis is what Reuters News Agency dubbed as a major challenge for Sisi. Fuel shortages and power cuts are crises that could stir public anger, which Sisi may find hard to quell, the agency contended.