In a surprise move, Egyptian President el-Sisi removed the defense minister and appointed Lt. Gen. Ashraf Salem Zaher, head of the Egyptian Military Academy, as his replacement.
On Wednesday, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi received Lt. Gen. Abdel Meguid Saqr, commander of the armed forces and minister of defense and military production, along with Lt. Gen. Ashraf Salem Zaher, as part of an ongoing leadership reshuffle.
Later that day, Zaher was sworn in before the president as Egypt’s new minister of defense and military production, marking a significant step in his career. He moved from overseeing what is often described as the army’s “leadership forge” — the Egyptian Military Academy — to the very top of the armed forces’ command structure.
WHO IS LT. GEN. ASHRAF SALEM ZAHER?