Cognitive dissonance is defined as a state of contradiction or inconsistency between ones beliefs and actions. Recently, this term has aptly described the state of Egypt’s officials – if we assume that they believe what they say – and President Sisi’s recent visit to the US is the clearest manifestation of it.

President Sisi was in New York last week to address the United Nations General Assembly. The numbers of supporters welcoming him were remarkably low compared to the previous year. He addressed numerous issues during his speech, including extremism, regional conflicts, and Egypt’s latest economic projects such as the expansion of the Suez Canal.

A number of American media outlets also interviewed Sisi, such as CNN. This is when he expressed his views on Syria and his preference for keeping Assad in power, asserting the importance of countering terrorism and extremist ideas. He also emphasised that Egypt is not a repressive state. Details