Sisi taps military chum to reform Egypt's railways
Egypt's fourth transportation minister in eight years vows to transform the country's dangerously dilapidated rail system, but some Egyptians wonder why a man with such a strong military background was selected for the job.
CAIRO — President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has chosen the head of Egypt's Armed Forces Engineering Authority, Lt. Gen. Kamel al-Wazir, to replace Hisham Arafat as transportation minister. Hisham resigned just hours after a Feb. 27 train crash in Cairo killed 22 people and left dozens wounded.
The decision reflects Sisi’s confidence in the military establishment, with which he has been engaging in all of his administration's mega development projects.
But the president’s decision is raising controversy. Some citizens welcomed Wazir’s appointment, believing he can restore order to the country’s vital transportation sector, mainly the railway network. Others say his appointment is meant to calm the public, and some have called for demonstrations over the dangerous state of the sector. The police arrested dozens of protesters following the train crash, according to human rights activists.
Egypt has one of the oldest railway networks in the world, stretching more than 9,570 kilometers (5,947 miles). The railway is rundown, with time-worn trains and rails that are very susceptible to human error and accidents.
