Egypt military intelligence backs Sisi step-down in 2018: sources

A dissident group of Egyptian military leaders have begun to push for an alternative to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in upcoming presidential elections set to take place in 2018.

Sources told The New Arab on Wednesday that a schism within the secret services has led to military intelligence diverging from the general intelligence service and supporting that Sisi step down after his term ends.

Many Egyptians have begun to lose patience with Sisi after following recent tax rises, soaring food price inflation and cuts in state subsidies.

"The top military intelligence chiefs have opened discussions about Sisi not running for re-election… to avoid another popular uprising similar to 2011," the source said.

"Sisi is completely against this scenario and is determined to run again in the upcoming elections. He is aware of the camp in the military opposed to him and has sought help from general intelligence to confront them."

The source added that the "countdown" for the end of Sisi's time in office began months ago and that the military is committed to a peaceful handover of power that will not lead to any unrest.

Last week, an Egyptian political source told The New Arab that Saudi Arabia will support former chief of staff, Sami Anan, as an alternative to Sisi in the 2018 election after relations between the two longtime allies fell apart.

Sisi popularity has declined in recent months as the economy has been hit by shortages of food staples, rising food prices and hikes in utility bills.

Egypt is suffering an acute foreign currency shortage because of the decimation of its lucrative tourism industry, a fall in Suez Canal revenues and reduced remittances from Egyptian expatriates.

It also suffers from double-digit rates of inflation and unemployment.

The Egypt-based polling agency Baseera, one of the few that conducts polls in the country, said its latest survey this month showed 68 percent of respondents approve of his performance, down from 79 percent in April and 85 percent in November.

Egypt's interior minister accused the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group of scheming to incite chaos, saying the country faced "unprecedented challenges" that required a "decisive" response by security forces, in comments published on Monday.

The minister's comments were the latest sign of alarm by the Egyptian government over possible unrest as result of worsening economic conditions.