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Egypt’s el-Sissi reshuffles government, key posts unchanged Egypt’s president reshuffles government, key posts unchanged
(about 2 hours later)
CAIRO — President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi reshuffled his government on Wednesday, naming nine new ministers, including for the finance and investment portfolios, but leaving the key ministries of defense, foreign affairs and interior untouched. CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi reshuffled his government on Wednesday, replacing nine ministers, including for the finance and investment portfolios, but leaving the key ministries of defense, foreign affairs and interior untouched.
The reshuffle comes at a time when Egypt under el-Sissi is facing a host of daunting problems, primarily an economy reeling from five years of unrest that has led to a severe slump in the vital tourism sector. The government recently devalued the country’s currency, sparking a surge in prices, all while Egyptian security forces are bogged down in a draining fight against Islamic militants. The shake-up comes as Egypt’s economy is reeling from five years of unrest and a severe slump in the vital tourism sector. The government recently devalued the currency, causing a surge in prices that could further erode support for el-Sissi, who led the overthrow of an elected Islamist president in 2013 and had vowed to revive the economy and restore investor confidence.
The changes also mirror the urgency with which the general-turned-president seeks to revive the economy and restore investors’ confidence, a task made more difficult by growing international criticism of Egypt’s human rights record. Egyptian security forces are meanwhile bogged down in a draining fight against Islamic militants, and a sweeping crackdown on dissent has fed international criticism of the country’s human rights record. The abduction, torture and killing of an Italian doctoral student has brought heightened scrutiny to police -- who deny any involvement -- and strained ties with Europe.
El-Sissi’s time in office has been partially defined by the killing of hundreds of Islamists in street clashes and the imprisonment of thousands of supporters of Mohammed Morsi, the freely elected president he ousted in July 2103 following mass protests against his divisive, one-year rule. El-Sissi signaled his support for the police by keeping the interior minister in place, and he defended his own record since being elected president in 2014, saying he had been forced to make tough decisions.
The case of an Italian doctoral student who disappeared in Cairo in January and whose body was found nine days later bearing signs of brutal torture has further hurt Egypt’s image over human rights.
El-Sissi, however, made it clear while addressing a group of authors on Tuesday that no one should expect a dramatic improvement on human rights and personal freedoms. By keeping in place the interior minister, the president appears to be tacitly endorsing a police force that rights activist say is practicing widespread torture and forced disappearances.
“I am responsible for 90 million people and I am careful to strike a balance between the nation’s security and stability on the one hand and safeguarding rights and freedoms on the other,” he was quoted as saying by the media on Wednesday.“I am responsible for 90 million people and I am careful to strike a balance between the nation’s security and stability on the one hand and safeguarding rights and freedoms on the other,” he was quoted as saying by the media on Wednesday.
Some of Wednesday’s government changes highlighted the challenges faced by el-Sissi. The nine government ministers replaced included those who had been in charge of finance, investment, water resources, tourism, transport, civil aviation and antiquities. Egyptian authorities rarely share with the public the reasons behind sacking ministers.
El-Sissi has since taking office staked his reputation on his high-energy, one-man drive to improve the economy, promising Egyptians a better future while frequently urging them to work harder. He has often complained that too much of the country’s financial resources went to state subsidies on basic items like food and fuel but, fearing widespread unrest, has been extremely cautious when talking about lifting or significantly reducing them. But the Cabinet changes appeared to reflect the wide-ranging challenges el-Sissi has faced. The nine ministers who were sacked included those who had been in charge of finance and investment, who were replaced with figures drawn from the private sector. The ministers for water resources, tourism, transport, civil aviation and antiquities were also replaced. A business sector portfolio was created to encourage startups.
“Nations are built by sweat and hard work alone,” he said in Tuesday’s meeting with a group of writers and prominent intellectuals. El-Sissi has staked his reputation on a high-energy, one-man drive to improve the economy, promising Egyptians a better future while frequently urging them to work harder. He has often complained that the state spends too much on subsidies for basic goods like food and fuel but, perhaps fearing widespread unrest, has been extremely cautious when talking about lifting or significantly reducing them.
El-Sissi swore in the 10 new ministers at the presidential al-Ittihadiyah palace in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis, according to state television. The reshuffle is the first since September, when el-Sissi named Sherif Ismail prime minister at the head of a new 33-seat government. “Nations are built by sweat and hard work alone,” he said in a meeting Tuesday with a group of writers and prominent intellectuals.
Egyptian authorities rarely share with the public the reasons behind sacking ministers, thus giving rise to intense media speculation. However, Wednesday’s replacements appeared to highlight the troubles faced by Egypt in specific sectors. El-Sissi swore in the 10 new ministers at the presidential al-Ittihadiyah palace in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis, according to state television. The reshuffle is the first since September, when el-Sissi named Sherif Ismail prime minister at the head of a new 33-seat government. Ismail remains in his post.
Reflecting efforts to revive the country’s ailing economy was the creation of a new business sector portfolio, which will be mandated with encouraging and shepherding small start-ups. The investment and finance ministers were also fired, both replaced by candidates plucked from the private sector. The replacement of the water minister follows the lack of any tangible progress in drawn-out negotiations between Egypt and Ethiopia over the construction of a massive dam on the Nile that will likely affect Cairo’s share of the river.
The replacement of the water minister follows the lack of any tangible progress in drawn-out negotiations between Egypt and Ethiopia over the construction of a massive dam on the Nile that will most likely affect Cairo’s vital share of the river’s water. A change in leadership at the Ministry of Civil Aviation comes less than five months after a Russian airliner crashed over the Sinai Peninsula shortly after taking off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Russia said the crash, which killed all 224 people on board, was caused by an explosive device, and the Sinai affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for downing the plane.
A change in leadership at the Ministry of Civil Aviation comes less than five months after a Russian airliner crashed over the Sinai Peninsula shortly after taking off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm, el-Sheikh. Russia said the crash, which killed all 224 people on board, was caused by an explosive device and the Sinai affiliate of the extremist Islamic State group claimed responsibility for downing the plane. Responding to charges of lax security and negligence, Egypt has since tightened checks at airports and hired a Britain-based company to train Egyptian staff on airport security.
Responding to charges of lax security and negligence at its airports, Egypt has since tightened checks at airports and hired a British-based company to train Egyptian staff on airport security. The Oct. 31 crash decimated Egypt’s already slumping tourism sector, with Russia suspending all flights to Egypt and Britain halting flights to Sharm el-Sheikh.
The Oct. 31 crash decimated Egypt’s already slumping tourism sector, with Russia suspending all flights to Egypt and Britain halting flights to Sharm el-Sheikh. The tourism and antiquities ministers were also replaced Wednesday.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.