What’s in Sisi’s fridge?
In an attempt to inspire Egyptian citizens, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has stated that for 10 years he had "nothing but water in his fridge" - but Egyptians have taken to social media to mock him instead.
With unemployment and poverty on the rise in a faltering economy, the government’s response has been to advise Egyptians to "tighten their belt", as well as to even ask for donations of spare change - which caused social media reactions of its own.
Speaking at the first National Youth Conference (NYC) in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, Sisi stated "never forget that the person here talking, is one of you."
He continued: "I swear to God, I lived for 10 years with nothing but water in my fridge and nobody ever heard me [complain]."
Instead of stirring a sense of inspirational resilience in Egyptians as Sisi had perhaps wanted through this anecdote, Egyptians have instead taken to Twitter to speculate about the contents of Sisi’s fridge.
The hashtag #Sisi’sFridge was a top trending topic both yesterday and this morning.
'That's the tap'
Translation: - Mum, I’ve spent 10 years, every time I open the fridge, I only find water.= I’ve told you 100 times, that’s the tap you idiot
Translation: From a very wealthy family that only feeds off water, from a sponge family ... Abdel Fattah Sponge Bob el-Sisi
Translation: 10 years of only Evian water.
'Fools run the country'
As the video of this tuk-tuk driver bemoaning the conditions of the country went viral, this social media user made a comparison between the two men.
Translation: The wise in Egypt leads a tuk-tuk … and the fools lead the country! God help you, Egypt.
For sale
Translation: For sale: a fridge that was used by someone with a Doctorate in Philosophy. Not used for 10 years other than for Water.
Some praised Sisi's acting skills
The Conference, which started yesterday and is running for two more days, is hosting more than 3,000 Egyptian youth leaders as well as government and religious officials.
Social media users took to Twitter to hold their own virtual youth conference to highlight the issue of enforced disappearings in Egypt asking #WhereHaveAllTheYoungOnesGone.
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