Abdel Fattah al-Sisi: India’s 2023 Republic Day Chief Guest

November 29, 2022

India has invited Egypt President Fattah al-Sisi as the chief guest on 2023 Republic Day. This makes al-Sisi the first Republic Day Chief Guest after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic.

Who is Abdel Fattah al-Sisi?

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who hails from city of el-Gamaliya and raised in an alleyway close to the Jewish quarter of Cairo’s old city, is a devout Muslim.
He became the head of Military Intelligence in Egypt. He rose to prominence in 2011 after he was named as the member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took up political control of the country after Arab Spring protests forced the long-time President Hosni Mubarak to resign.
General al-Sisi became the commander-in-chief of the military and defence minister under the government run by Mohammed Morsi – Egypt’s first democratically elected president.
He later resigned from the military and contested in 2014 elections, in which he won. He was re-elected again in 2018 and is expected to run again in 2024 since the recent amendment allowed him to keep the office until 2030.
His government is often criticized for using force to stifle protestors and opposition voices in Egypt.

Why is being chosen as the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day a huge honor?

Being chosen as the Republic Day’s Chief Guest is the highest honour India accords in terms of protocol. The Chief Guest is often the front and centre of many ceremonial activities during this occasion. He is provided with the ceremonial guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a reception hosted by the President of India in the evening. Chief Guest also lays a wreath at Rajghat to honor Mahatma Gandhi. There is also a banquet in Chief Guest’s honour, a lunch hosted by the Prime Minister and calls by the Vice President and the External Affairs Minister.

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