Former intelligence officer: Pro-Sisi businessmen conspired to weaken him

Pro-Sisi businessmen, Naguib Sawiris and Mohamed Aboul Enein instigated other businessmen to burn and destroy their factories to weaken his influence and curb the army’s ambitions to control their businesses, Alamat Online reported a former Egyptian intelligence officer saying.

Omar Afifi said, in a post on Facebook: “During their meeting with Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi, the businessmen pointed out that they brought him into power having planned and financed the June 30 revolution using their men, money, influence and channels.”

Afifi noted that “although Sisi tried to convince the men to fund his government and to reassure them about their status under his rule, they decided to curb his influence.”

He pointed out that “after the meeting ended, Sawiris and Aboul Enein instigated other businessmen to burn their factories and companies and sell their properties and fixed assets and invest in more secure Arab or African countries with low taxes.”

Afifi said: “The businessmen followed Sawiris and Aboul Enein’s advice and burned their factories and companies to drain insurance companies, weaken Al-Sisi and curb the army generals’ ambitions who wanted to rob them similar to during the Nasser era.”