Egypt’s new Cabinet was sworn in with major changes in the defense, foreign ministry and economy portfolios as the country faces conflicts in neighboring nations. The coronavirus pandemic and the fallout of wars in Europe and the Middle East have all caused economic pain including inflation. In addition, a Western-backed reform program — adopted in 2016 and backed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi — has led to austerity measures. As el-Sissi chaired the first meeting of his government, the president affirmed the importance of completing the economic reform program and urged the government to work on “attracting and encouraging domestic and foreign investments,” according to his office.
Quick Read
- Egypt’s new Cabinet sworn in amid major changes in defense, foreign ministry, and economy portfolios
- Egypt faces economic challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic and wars in Europe and the Middle East, leading to inflation and economic pain. A Western-backed reform program, adopted in 2016 and supported by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, has introduced austerity measures.
- President el-Sissi, in his first government meeting, stressed the importance of completing the economic reform program and attracting both domestic and foreign investments.
- Mohamed Maait, finance minister since 2018, was replaced by his deputy Ahmed Kouchouk, a former World Bank economist instrumental in implementing an IMF-backed reform program.
- Earlier this year, the Egyptian government floated the pound and significantly raised the main interest rate, with the U.S. dollar now trading at over 47 pounds, up from about 31.
- Revenues from the Suez Canal have declined due to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Red Sea shipping routes.
- Efforts to revive the tourism sector continue, with Sherif Fathy, a former civil aviation minister, replacing Ahmed Issa as tourism and antiquities minister. Mahmoud Esmat was appointed to oversee the electricity ministry.
- Amid conflicts in Gaza, Libya, and Sudan, Badr Abdelatty, previously Egypt’s envoy to Germany and Belgium, was named foreign and migration minister, replacing Sameh Shoukry.
- Gen. Abdel-Majeed Sakr replaced Gen. Mohamed Zaki as defense minister, and Lt. Gen. Ahmed Fathy Khalifa was appointed as the military’s chief of staff.
- El-Sissi, elected for a third six-year term in December, appointed Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly to form the new government last month.
- The new Cabinet includes four women and several technocrats, with some ministers, including those overseeing police, health, and transportation, remaining in place.
- El-Sissi, a former defense minister, was first elected president in 2014 and reelected in 2018. Constitutional amendments passed in 2019 extended his second term by two years and allowed him to run for a third term.
The Associated Press has the story:
Egypt swears in a new Cabinet with major changes in defense, foreign affairs & economy
Newslooks- CAIRO (AP) —
Egypt’s new Cabinet was sworn in with major changes in the defense, foreign ministry and economy portfolios as the country faces conflicts in neighboring nations. The coronavirus pandemic and the fallout of wars in Europe and the Middle East have all caused economic pain including inflation. In addition, a Western-backed reform program — adopted in 2016 and backed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi — has led to austerity measures. As el-Sissi chaired the first meeting of his government, the president affirmed the importance of completing the economic reform program and urged the government to work on “attracting and encouraging domestic and foreign investments,” according to his office.
Mohamed Maait, Egypt’s finance minister since 2018, was replaced by his deputy Ahmed Kouchouk, a former World Bank economist who played a major role in implementing a reform program with the International Monetary Fund. Earlier this year, the government floated the pound and sharply increased the main interest rate. Commercial banks are now trading the U.S. dollar at more than 47 pounds, up from about 31. Meanwhile, Egypt’s revenues from the Suez Canal have dropped as Yemen’s Houthi rebels attack shipping routes on the Red Sea.
Egypt also has been trying to revive the lucrative tourism sector. In the new Cabinet, Sherif Fathy, a former civil aviation minister, replaced Ahmed Issa as tourism and antiquities minister. Mahmoud Esmat was named to oversee the electricity ministry.
As conflicts rage in Gaza, Libya and Sudan, Badr Abdelatty, who has been Egypt’s envoy to European countries including Germany and Belgium, was named foreign and migration minister. The 58-year-old diplomat replaced Sameh Shoukry, who led Egypt’s diplomacy for the past decade.
Gen. Abdel-Majeed Sakr replaced Gen. Mohamed Zaki, who had led the defense portfolio since 2018. El-Sissi also appointed Lt. Gen. Ahmed Fathy Khalifa as the military’s chief of staff.
El-Sissi, elected in December for a third six-year term, tapped Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, in office since 2018, to form the new government last month. The new Cabinet includes four women and several technocrats. Some ministers, including those in charge of police, health and transportation, remain in place.
El-Sissi, a former defense minister, was first elected president in mid-2014 and reelected in 2018. A year later, constitutional amendments passed in a general referendum added two years to el-Sissi’s second term and allowed him to run for a third.
