Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has reappointed Mostafa Madbouly as Prime Minister and asked him to form a new government.
The move comes after the cabinet resigned on Monday amid a series of economic challenges and growing discontent over recent austerity measures.
“Today, I assigned Dr Mostafa Madbouly to form a new government that includes the necessary expertise and competencies to manage the next phase in order to achieve the desired development in government performance and confront the challenges facing the state,” Mr El Sisi said.
His office outlined objectives including the need to maintain national security in light of regional and international challenges, prioritise human development, particularly in health care and education, as well as to continue efforts to boost political participation.
The presidency also stressed the importance of security, stability and counter-terrorism efforts, and the development of culture, national awareness and a moderate religious discourse.
The new government will be required to maintain economic reform, attract and increase domestic and foreign investment, and encourage the growth of the private sector.
Mr El Sisi also called for concerted efforts to regulate markets and curb inflation.
The directive comes at a time when Egypt is navigating a challenging economic landscape and undergoing significant structural changes.
The country recently introduced a series of austerity measures, as required by its creditors, including the lifting of a bread subsidy that left many Egyptians concerned about their ability to afford basic necessities amid record-high inflation and diminishing spending power.
Cairo secured more than $50 billion in funds after finalising agreements with several foreign partners, including an $8 billion package from the International Monetary Fund that came with stringent conditions calling for reduced public spending, a tight monetary policy and a greater economic role for the private sector.
The decision to raise the price of subsidised bread to 20 piastres a loaf, from five piastres, came into effect on June 1 but caused widespread concern and was criticised by civil society groups and legislators.
The move, aimed at reducing the financial burden on the state, has further stoked public discontent as the underprivileged struggle to cope with the rising cost of living.
Despite the influx of foreign aid, many Egyptians feel that their immediate needs are being overlooked in favour of long-term economic reforms.
The new government will face the challenge of balancing debt reduction and economic growth while addressing pressing issues such as unemployment and the overbearing role of the state and military in the economy.
Mr El Sisi was sworn in for a third term on April 2, marking a decade in office for the former army general whose rule has fundamentally changed the most populous Arab nation.
In 2022, four years after Mr Madbouly's cabinet was formed, it underwent a partial reshuffle. Thirteen ministers were replaced, including those in charge of health, irrigation and water resources, and tourism.
Mr El Sisi stated at the time that the changes were made after consultations with Mr Madbouly to improve government performance in key sectors and enhance service delivery for Egyptian citizens.
RESULTS
5pm: Rated Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Tair, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner: Son Of Normandy, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
