Sisi ensures shoo-in election, keeps rearranging staff
People are questioning the timing of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s appointment of a close associate as acting intelligence director ahead of the presidential election.
CAIRO — Despite having no real challengers, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is shoring up his support in the March election, surrounding himself with his closest, most loyal advisers — the ones he hasn't fired, that is.
Sisi fired Khaled Fawzy as director of the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) on Jan. 19, replacing him with Maj. Gen. Abbas Kamel — Sisi's chief of staff — as acting director. Sisi had appointed Fawzy as GID director in December 2014. No reason was given for Fawzy's dismissal, though there has been plenty of speculation.
Former Chief of Staff Sami Anan’s bid for the presidency sparked controversy — even more so when his campaign was cut short after the army arrested him Jan. 23 for alleged fraud and attempts to stir a dispute between the people and the army.
In October, Sisi's administration fired several high-ranking government officials.
