Egypt’s president replaces powerful intelligence chief
What you need to know:
- “The president issued an order sending General Tohamy, the head of general intelligence, into retirement,” it said, adding that he had been given a medal for his work.
CAIRO, Sunday
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi today removed the powerful general intelligence chief appointed just days after the ouster of Islamist leader Mohamed Morsy in July last year.
General Mohamed Farid El-Tohamy was replaced by his deputy General Khaled Mahmoud Fuad Fawzy, Sisi’s office said in a statement, without specifying why.
“The president issued an order sending General Tohamy, the head of general intelligence, into retirement,” it said, adding that he had been given a medal for his work.
General Fawzy takes charge of Egypt’s intelligence operations from Sunday. Former army general Sameh Seif al-Yazal, an expert on military strategy who has close ties with the security services, told AFP that Tohamy, 67, had been unwell and had “spent the last two months in hospital”.
Tohamy was appointed spy chief after the ouster of Morsy on July 3, 2013.
