Egypt officials betray Sisi, attempt to reconcile with Muslim Brotherhood

Egyptian Sisi regime officials have recently been attempting to reconcile with the Muslim Brotherhood, going behind President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s back in the process, reports have indicated.

Figures from the Egyptian government have been speaking to the banned group about working on a reconciliation deal, London-based Brotherhood leader Mohamed Sudan told The New Arab.

“Second-level leaders in some agencies of the Sisi regime have visited Istanbul to express their desire to join the anti-coup camp and others have done the same during meetings in Cairo,” Sudan said.

Sudan did not reveal the identities of the Egyptian officials speaking to the Brotherhood on a possible compromise deal between the two sides.

This week marked six years since the 2011 uprising that ousted long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak. In 2013, a military coup led by current President Al-Sisi overthrew former Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohammad Morsi and began a ruthless crackdown on his supporters and opponents of Al-Sisi’s military rule.

Egypt has been blasted time and again for its indiscriminate counterterrorism laws that have classified thousands of people as “terrorists” for their alleged assistance, support or even sympathy towards the Muslim Brotherhood.

News of a possible reconciliation comes as reports of an executive order under consideration by newly inaugurated President Donald Trump would direct Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to determine whether to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organisation which would support Al-Sisi’s own endeavours against the group.

The Trump administration also renewed its pledges to the Egyptian regime, saying that it was committed to providing military assistance to the Sisi regime following a telephone call from Al-Sisi who was the first Arab leader to congratulate Trump after his inauguration as President of the United States last week.