Egypt Announces Cabinet Reshuffle: Key Changes In Economic Leadership

July 3, 2024

 

Egypt’s newly formed cabinet, comprising 22 new ministers and retaining 8 incumbents, was sworn in at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on July 3.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly reaffirmed his leadership role, extending his term since June 2018. With a total of 30 ministers, the reshuffled government aims to address economic challenges amidst significant changes in key positions within the Economic Group and Ministry of Defense.

Among the new appointees were two deputy prime ministers: Kamel Al-Wazir for industrial development affairs and Khaled Abdel Ghaffar for human development affairs.

General Abdel Majeed Saqr, previously Governor of Suez and Commander of the Republican Guard, was appointed Minister of Defense, succeeding General Mohamed Zaki.

Major General Mahmoud Tawfiq assumed the role of Minister of Interior, continuing his tenure in this position since June 2018, while Badr Abdel Ati replaced Sameh Shoukry as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and Soha Gendi for the Emigration and Expatriate Affairs.

Changes in economic leadership

Ahmed Kouchouk has succeeded Mohamed Maait, becoming the Minister of Finance. Before taking the oath, Kouchouk served as the Deputy Minister of Finance for Fiscal Policies in the previous government since 2016.

Hassan El-Khatib took the oath as Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. He served as a member of the Board of the Central Bank of Egypt. Before that, he was acting as a non-executive board member in The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE).

Rania Al-Mashat retained her role as Minister of International Cooperation, while also taking on the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. Previously, from 2018 to 2019, Al-Mashat served as Minister of Tourism.

Karim Badawi was sworn in as the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, succeeding Tarek El-Molla. His previous role was Regional President of Schlumberger International in Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean. Badawi began his career as a field engineer from 1996 to 2000 and later served as Director of the Training Center at Schlumberger from 2002 to 2003.Mahmoud Esmat, formerly the Minister of Public Business Sector, has assumed the role of Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, succeeding Mohamed Shaker.

Kamel El-Wazir continues to serve as the Minister of Transport, a position he has held since 2019, in addition to his role as Minister of Industry and Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development.

Sherif Fathy took the oath as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, replacing Ahmed Issa. Fathy brings extensive civil aviation experience, having held roles such as regional director at KLM and Northwest Airlines in the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia. He was also Executive Director for the Middle East and North Africa at IATA. Fathy later served as Chairman and CEO of Aircairo, focusing on charter and low-cost aviation, and as COO at Air Arabia in Sharjah.

New cabinet

Sameh Al Hanafi, appointed as the new Minister of Civil Aviation, previously led EgyptAir’s Holding Company and the Academy of Aviation Sciences. He also represented Egypt at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as a permanent member of its Board of Directors.

Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar took the oath as the Minister of Health and Population and the Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development Affairs.

Manal Awad Mikhail became the first woman in Egypt’s history to hold the position of Minister of Local Development, succeeding Major General Hisham Amna.

Ahmed Hanno took the oath as Minister of Culture, replacing Nevine El-Kilany.

Alaa Farouk took the oath as the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, replacing El-Sayed El-Quseir.

Mahmoud Fawzy, who led President Sisi’s election campaign in the last presidential elections, has been appointed as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Political Communication, succeeding Alaa El-Din Fouad.

Mohamed Gobran took the oath as Minister of Labour replacing Hassan Shehata.

Mohamed Salah El-Din took the oath as the Minister of State for Military Production, persisting in this position since August 2022.

Ayman Ashour, serving as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research since August 2022, reaffirmed his oath before the president to continue in his role in the new cabinet.

Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation since August 2022, took the oath before President El-Sisi to continue in his role.

Mohamed Abdellattif, Minister of Education.

Adnan Fangari, Minister of Justice.

Sherif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, replaced Ali Meselhi who left his post to head the National Postal Authority.

Mohamed Al-Sheemy, Minister of Public Business Sector.

Sheikh Osama Al-Azhari succeeds Sheikh Mukhtar Jumaa as the new Minister of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, and Maya Morsi takes over as Minister of Social Solidarity from Nevin Al-Qabbaj.

Yasmine Saleh remains as Minister of Environment, Amr Talaat continues as Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Ashraf Sobhy remains the Minister of Youth and Sports.