President, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has reshuffled the nation’s powerful General Intelligence Service replacing Major General Abbas Kamel with Maj. Gen. Hassan Mahmoud Rashad. The reshuffled has equally seen Gen. Kamel appointed special envoy to the presidency. Happening at a critical time, both officials took the legal oath on Wednesday before president Sisi.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has appointed Major General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad as the nation’s new head of the general intelligence agency.Following the nomination on Wednesday, the outgoing intelligence chief Abbas Kamel has been appointed as an adviser to the presidency.
The stalled negotiations for a ceasefire deal in Gaza, in which Egypt has been a mediator along with the United States and Qatar, have been handled by another senior intelligence official and were overseen by Kamel0
At a critical point when Egypt is at the helm of the African Peace and Security council, and has played key roles in mediation across in Africa and the middle East, it should be noted that the intelligence agency has played a leading role under Sisi, handling foreign-policy matters including conflicts in Gaza, Sudan and Libya. Also, it contributed as well as domestic-security issues linked to a long-running crackdown on political dissent.
The new leader Rashad had previously served as a deputy to Kamel, and had taken over management of important files, including warming relations between Egypt and Iran.
As it stands both authorities have been sworn in to assume their duties, according to a statement by the presidency.
