Donald Trump will welcome Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt’s strongman president, to the White House on Monday amid criticism from human rights groups.

Unlike former US leader Barack Obama, Mr Trump has expressed admiration for the former general who came to power in a coup in 2013.

In September Mr Trump said: "He’s a fantastic guy. Took control of Egypt, and he really took control of it.”

The White House described the visit as a chance to “reboot the bilateral relationship” between the US and Egypt, which it called “one of the traditional pillars of stability in the Middle East".

Mr Sisi was among the very first world leaders to congratulate Mr Trump, both after his election victory and his inauguration.