The Egyptian presidency announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher Mansour as the new Minister of Defense, succeeding Lieutenant General Abdel Majeed Saqr, as part of a ministerial reshuffle approved by the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The change comes at a time when the country is facing economic challenges and regional pressures, in addition to the rearrangement of a number of government portfolios.

Published on: 02/11/2026 - 04:47

The Egyptian Parliament on Tuesday approved a ministerial reshuffle proposed by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which included the appointment of Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher Mansour as a new Minister of Defense, within the framework of a somewhat limited ministerial reshuffle, along with a number of service portfolios, in a new attempt to confront a long-term economic crisis exacerbated by regional instability.

Mansour, who was director of the Military Academy, succeeds Lieutenant General Abdel Majeed Saqr, who assumed the position in July 2024. According to official media, the Egyptian Parliament approved the cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, but Mansour’s appointment was not revealed at the time.

The changes also included ministries concerned with investment, planning, housing, industry and communications, with the creation of the position of deputy prime minister for economic development, according to what the government newspaper Al-Ahram reported.

Hussein Issa, former head of the Parliament's Plan and Budget Committee, assumed the newly created position of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Development.

Ahmed Rustom, a former expert at the World Bank, was also appointed Minister of Planning.

Mohamed Farid Saleh, former head of the Financial Supervision Authority, assumed the portfolio of investment and international trade.

The amendment also included the reinstatement of the Ministry of Information, which was assigned to Diaa Rashwan, the current head of the State Information Service.

This ministry, which was responsible for proposing policy and the state's general plan in the fields of media, was abolished after the 2011 uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, with its powers transferred to regulatory media bodies.

France 24/AFP/Reuters

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