Egypt: Second Sisi government sworn in

A new Egyptian government, headed by former Petroleum Minister Sherif Ismail, was sworn in on Saturday.

The cabinet of 33 members included 16 new ministers, while some ministries were merged. The Ministry of Health was merged with the Ministry of Population, the Ministry of Technical Education with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Scientific Research with the Ministry of Higher Education.

The new cabinet saw some changes, including the ministries of culture, trade, industry, higher education and communications. However, there were no changes in other key posts, including the foreign, interior, justice and defence ministries.

Sisi appointed former Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab as an assistant for national and strategic projects.

Mahlab’s government, which lasted for 15 months, resigned on September 12, days following the arrest of Agriculture Minister Salah Helal over a corruption probe. It is estimated that corruption in Egypt cost $25.5bn since revolution.

Meanwhile, Judge Nabil Sadek was sworn in as the country’s new prosecutor-general. Sadek, a former police officer who has served in several judiciary posts, was elected by the Supreme Judicial Council after his predecessor, Hisham Barakat, was assassinated in June.