Top News: Sisi Sworn in as Egypt’s Eighth President, Reappoints Mahlab as PM

Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has been sworn in as the eighth president of Egypt at a ceremony in Cairo. Sisi took the oath-of-office before the Supreme Constitutional Court on Sunday, beginning his four year presidency. He reappointed on Monday the country’s prime minister Ibrahim Mahlab to head a caretaker government shortly after the cabinet tendered its resignation.

POLITICS

Sisi sworn in as Egypt’s eighth president
Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has been sworn in as the eighth president of Egypt at a ceremony in Cairo. Sisi took the oath-of-office before the Supreme Constitutional Court on Sunday, beginning his four year presidency. “Our nation has never witnessed a peaceful transfer of power before,” Sisi said in his first speech as president after taking the oath, adding that that it was a huge responsibility to lead a country like Egypt. He thanked countries who have supported Egypt in the past few years, directing special words to Gulf countries and particularly to Saudi Arabia, as well as saying that fighting terrorism will be a top priority. The swearing-in was followed by an inauguration ceremony at Ittihadiya presidential palace in Cairo’s Heliopolis district in the presence of Arab, African and international leaders and their representatives. Addressing the attendees in a second speech, Sisi expressed his hope for “an internal and external renaissance for the country” and vowed to establish a “strong, just, safe state.” The governmental, State Information Service published an English translation of his second speech. In an evening ceremony at Cairo’s al-Quba presidential palace, Sisi vowed to establish a social contract between the people based on honesty and not “shining hopes.” [Ahram Online, DNE, Mada Masr, Reuters, 6/8/2014]

Officials says leading ministers likely unchanged as Sisi reappoints Mahlab PM
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi reappointed on Monday the country’s prime minister Ibrahim Mahlab to head a caretaker government shortly after the cabinet tendered its resignation. In the resignation letter submitted to the newly inaugurated president, Mahlab said that he and his cabinet made “every effort to implement the tasks entrusted to us in very difficult circumstances.” In comments carried by the state news agency, Mahlab said the current government would stay on in a caretaker role until he forms a new cabinet. Consultations had not yet begun, he said, although officials have said many of the leading ministers such as finance are likely to be unchanged. [Ahram Online, DNE, Egypt Independent, AP, Reuters, Aswat Masriya, Mada Masr, 6/9/2014]

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COURTS

Guilty verdicts of policemen in Abu Zaabal prison case overturned
The Khanka Misdemeanor Court of Appeals overturned a ten year prison sentence handed down to one policeman and the one year suspended sentence given to three others on Saturday, on charges of killing thirty-seven detainees inside a police van last summer. They were killed as a teargas canister was shot into a vehicle transporting them to the Abu Zaabal Prison. The judge sent the case back to the prosecutor general and ordered a new investigation that could result in a new trial or in the case being dismissed, legal sources said. [Ahram Online, DNE, Egypt Independent, Reuters, 6/7/2014]

Cairo court refers ten death sentences to Grand Mufti for review
Cairo’s Shubra Criminal Court sentenced Saturday ten supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi to death on charges of inciting violence and blocking the Qalyub Highway last July. The case includes a total of forty-eight accused, including the Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, who was not amongst the ten sentenced to death. Among those sentenced are Abdel Rahman al-Barr, a member of the Brotherhood’s Guidance Council, and Mohamed Abdel-Maqsoud, a well-known Salafi preacher who fled to Qatar after Morsi’s ouster. In accordance with Egyptian law, the court referred the death sentence to the country’s Grand Mufti to review the verdicts. All ten sentenced to death are at large. The trial of the remaining thirty-eight defendants will continue July 5. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, Reuters, Mada Masr, 6/7/2014]

Egypt Movement judges’ trial begins Monday
The Judges Discipline Council started on Monday the trial of fifteen judges including former Sharqiya Governor Hassan al-Naggar over involvement in joining the Judges for Egypt movement. The judges are accused of participating in politics, a violation of the judicial authority law. According to the investigations, the judges held rallies to support ousted President Mohamed Morsi’s November 2012 decree granting himself sweeping powers, as well as holding meetings to support Morsi’s decisions. [Egypt Independent, 6/9/2014]

Egypt prosecutor investigates media figures for insulting January 25 Revolution
Prosecutor-general Hisham Barakat ordered Saturday an investigation into complaints filed against prominent media figures Tawfiq Okasha, Hayat al-Dardeery, Ahmed Mousa, Rola Kharsa and Mostafa Bakry. The complaint filed against the media figures accuses them of spreading false information, insulting the Egyptian people, threatening national security by hosting Mubarak-era corrupt figures during, insulting the January 25 Revolution and defending Mubarak regime figures. [Ahram Online, 6/7/2014]

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ECONOMY

Egypt turns to Western advisers, signaling possible reforms – sources
Western advisers are drawing up plans for reshaping the Egyptian economy, sources said, with the apparent blessing of president-elect Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who so far has spoken only vaguely in public about reviving the state’s finances. The driving force behind the consulting project is the United Arab Emirates, along with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. If Egypt were to accept reforms proposed by US consultancy Lazard and Strategy – formerly called Booz & Company, it could be used as a basis for reopening talks on a loan deal with the IMF. [Reuters, 6/6/2014]

IMF ready to help Egypt, Lagarde tells Sisi
IMF Chief Christine Lagarde personally congratulated Egypt’s President-elect Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and stressed the global lender remains ready to help the country, the IMF said Friday. An IMF spokesman said the global lender is providing technical assistance on tax issues and other matters to Egypt, and an IMF technical team had been in Cairo from April 27 to May 2. [AFP, 6/7/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Egypt, UAE choose army-linked company to build wheat silos | Reuters
  • Egypt trade deficit falls for seventh straight month | Ahram Online
  • Egypt pound firms at c.bank sale after El-Sisi sworn in, black market flat | Reuters
  • Egypt’s Suez Canal sees $469 milion revenues in May | Ahram Online
  • Cairo traffic costs Egypt EGP 47 billion a year: World Bank | Ahram Online
  • Egypt c.bank governor says forex policies successful, could eliminate black market | Reuters

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Ten arrested, at least one killed as Morsi supporters protest Sisi election
Supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi held protests over the weekend, condemning the presidential elections which saw former Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi win in a sweeping victory. At least one was reportedly killed and two injured in clashes on Friday which followed a pro-Morsi rally in Ayat, in the suburbs of Giza. The Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing, claimed that the death toll from the clashes was three. In Alexandria, ten protesters were arrested as clashes took place between police and hundreds of Morsi supporters in several districts in the coastal city. Security forces stormed the student dormitories at Al-Azhar University in Cairo to control chaos caused by rioting students, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported on Friday. On Saturday, members of the Students Against the Coup movement at Cairo University torched a security checkpoint outside the University’s Giza campus over the death of a member of the movement in May. On Sunday, a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated group widely known as the 7 am Movement protested in Fayoum, marching against what they call a military coup orchestrated by Egypt’s new president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. At Sohag University and Al-Azhar University, pro-Brotherhood students staged a protest against Sisi’s inauguration. [DNE, 6/8/2104]

Seven arrested for sexual assault in Tahrir Square
At least five cases of sexual assault were reported in Tahrir Square on Sunday as people flocked to Egypt’s iconic square to celebrate the inauguration of army general Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to anti-harassment group I Saw Harassment (Shoft Taharosh). A recent sexual assault caught on video during the presidential celebrations on Sunday has been going viral online. The graphic video allegedly shows a naked and injured woman being tossed around by a large group of men in the square as she tries to flee a gang assault. Egyptian police on Monday arrested seven men for assaulting the nineteen year-old student and are investigating twenty-seven complaints of sexual harassment. The “I Saw Harassment” group, launched to document and lobby against sexual harassment, criticized police efforts to prevent such incidents but praised Adly Mansour’s decision to amend sections of Article 58 in the penal law, to include the term. [DNE, Egypt Independent, AP, Mada Masr, Aswat Masriya, 6/9/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Egypt’s Education minister confirms leak of general secondary exam | Ahram Online
  • Interior ministry arrests student accused of leaking exam answers | DNE
  • Journalist’s hunger strike ongoing | DNE
  • EIPR launches website on building collapses | DNE
  • Legal steps pave the way to restricting airing of religious sermons | DNE
  • Activist Mahienour al-Massry writes from prison | Mada Masr, DNE
  • Jewish Community Chief says not invited for Sisi’s inauguration, wishes him success | Egypt Independent
  • Hunger striking detainees’ families accuse fact-finding committee of lying | Mada Masr

SECURITY

Explosion kills one civilian, wounds another in October 6 city
An improvised explosive device killed one person and wounded another in October 6 city on the outskirts of Cairo on Saturday. Two brothers were guarding a piece of land, according to Al-Ahram, when one of them found a strange object which exploded as he was inspecting it. [Ahram Online, 6/7/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis releases video of explosion near Ismailia military intelligence building | DNE

INTERNATIONAL

World leaders continue to congratulate Sisi on presidency
Russian leader Vladimir Putin congratulated Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on his inauguration as president of Egypt. “I am ready to continue working with you to strengthen Russian-Egyptian relations,” Putin said in the statement, adding, “I take this opportunity to confirm my invitation to you to visit Russia soon.” Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad congratulated Sisi Sunday in a cable, after he was sworn in as president of Egypt, state news agency QNA reported. Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Egypt`s president-elect, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, via a phone call on Friday, according to El-Sisi`s official Facebook page. [Ahram Online, Reuters, Aswat Masriya, 6/9/2014]

Foreign dignitaries attend Sisi inauguration
Heads of state and senior diplomats from around the world gathered in Cairo on Sunday morning to witness the inauguration of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The ceremony witnessed a low presence of western leaders, who limited their representation to envoys. One of the exceptions was Russia, which was represented by its Chairman of the State Duma Sergey Naryshkin. The United Kingdom was represented by Deputy Ambassador Steven Hackey. Representatives from the oil rich Arabian Gulf states, included Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah. Qatar announced its ambassador to Egypt would attend the evening ceremony marking Sisi’s inauguration, but not the swearing in. Africa was well represented including the heads of state of Chad, Eritrea and Equatorial Guinea. [DNE, Ahram Online, 6/8/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • President Sisi says won’t allow rift with Ethiopia | Ahram Online
  • Reporters Without Borders urges Sisi to safeguard press freedom | Ahram Online, DNE
  • Egypt halts truck movement to and from Libya | DNE
  • Fahmy meets with Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo | DNE
  • Wary US unlikely to restore full Egypt aid soon | AFP
  • Qatar’s ambassador arrives in Cairo | Egypt Independent
  • FM: Egypt seeks stronger, more respectable ties with Washington | Egypt Independent