As hunger bites, is Egypt ready to turn its back on its president? | Edmund Bower

The reaction to President Sisi's recent gaffe in telling Egyptians to go hungry while he pursues billion-dollar megaprojects suggests that unrest could again be in the air

If all President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi had done was announce his campaign for what would be an unconstitutional third term, he would have attracted far less attention. There was never any doubt that Sisi would seek to extend his nine years in office and there is almost no chance he will lose. But his announcement was preceded by Story of the Homeland, a three-day conference to showcase his presidential achievements, at which Sisi made some bizarre comments.

If progress, prosperity, and development come at the price of hunger and deprivation," he told attenders on Sunday, Egyptians, do not shy away from progress! Don't dare say: It is better to eat.'"