An audio recording newly released by an Egyptian TV station shows that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) helped a military coup in Egypt which led to the ouster of the first freely-elected President Mohamed Morsi and the coming to power of Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi as the new president.

The leak by Egypt's Mekameleen TV, believed to date back to January 14, shows how the UAE supported and funded the military coup in the African country in 2013.

A part of the audio reveals that Sisi's office manager, General Abbas Kamil, asks UAE Minister of State Sultan Al-Jaber to provide the Egyptian army with new funds.

In another part of the footage, Kamil is heard speaking with UAE Defense Minister Sobhi Sudqi. During the conversation, Kamil urges Sudqi to guarantee that the Egyptian army’s plans for the coup are not leaked.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait are the key financial backers of Sisi’s government, having pledged nearly $12 billion to Cairo since the former army chief, who led a military coup against Morsi, rose to power.

Muslim Brotherhood-backed Morsi was elected president in an election after the fall of long-time dictator, Hosni Mubarak, but was later ousted in a coup led by Sisi in July 2013.

The Egyptian government has been cracking down on any opposition since Morsi was overthrown, arresting thousands of people, including Brotherhood leaders and activists.

The UN Human Rights Council has repeatedly expressed concern over the Egyptian security forces’ heavy-handed crackdown and the killing of anti-government protesters in the country.