El-Sisi Names New Intelligence Chief in Latest Security Shakeup

(Bloomberg) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has named an interim spy chief, according to the state-run Middle East News Agency, in the latest shakeup in the security services ahead of presidential elections in April.

Brigadier General Abbas Kamel will take over as acting head of the General Intelligence Directorate, MENA reported, citing the presidency. No reason for the change was given. He previously served as office chief for agency director Khaled Fawzi. The report didn’t specifically say that Fawzi had been removed or offer additional details.

Fawzi, who was appointed to the job at the end of 2014, was a main player in Egypt’s push to help the Palestinian Authority mend rifts with the Hamas militant movement that rules the Gaza Strip. The two sides met in Cairo late last year to work on mechanisms to implement the reconciliation.

The change comes months after El-Sisi removed the armed forces chief of staff, the head of the country’s national security agency and 10 other top Interior Ministry officials following a deadly ambush of anti-terrorism agents in October.

After militants massacred more than 300 people in November, El-Sisi ordered the new military chief-of-staff to restore security in the restive north Sinai peninsula within three months. El-Sisi, who has been criticized for a sweeping crackdown on Islamists after the 2013 military-backed public uprising that ousted President Mohamed Mursi, ordered the use of brute force against militants, including Islamic State’s local affiliate.

The fight against the militants is key for Egypt. Attacks on the vital tourism sector, including the 2015 downing of a Russian airliner over the Sinai peninsula, battered travel to the country, depriving it of a key source of hard currency. 

El-Sisi is expected to run in the March election, though no official announcement has been made.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tarek El-Tablawy in Cairo at teltablawy@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alaa Shahine at asalha@bloomberg.net, Amy Teibel, Mark Williams

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