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What triggered Egypt’s Cabinet reshuffle?

Just six months after the government’s formation, a major Cabinet reshuffle replaced 10 ministers, which raises questions about the state's ability to implement its plans.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks to the media after the signing ceremony for a deal to build Egypt's first nuclear power plant between Egypt and Russia at the Ittihadiya presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, November 19, 2015. Moscow and Cairo signed an agreement on Thursday for Russia to build a nuclear power plant in Egypt, with Russia extending a loan to Egypt to cover the cost of construction. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh - RTS800T
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks to the media at the Ittihadiya presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 19, 2015. — REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Ten new ministers were sworn in to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s new Cabinet on March 23, in a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle that came just six months after the government’s formation in September 2015. The new government will still be headed by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, who assumed the premiership following the resignation of the previous Cabinet led by Ibrahim Mehleb.

The Cabinet reshuffle can be traced back to March 13, when Minister of Justice Ahmed al-Zend was asked to step down following his controversial remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.

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