Who is Mohamed Farid Hegazy, the new military chief of staff?

CAIRO – 28 October 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi issued a decree on Saturday appointing Mohamed Farid Hegazy as the new chief of staff of the armed forces, succeeding Lieutenant General Mahmoud Hegazy. Sisi also promoted outgoing Mahmoud Hegazy to the position of presidential advisor for strategic planning and crisis management, the statement added.

Mohamed Farid Hegazy holds a bachelor of military science from the Military Technical College (1977) and a master’s of military science. He served as chief of staff of the Northern Military Region and then led the Second Field Army. Hegazy also served as the commander of the Second Army from July 2010 to July 2012 and later served as secretary general of the Defense Ministry during one of the most crucial periods of the country, the June 30 Revolution. Furthermore, since June, Mohamed Farid Hejazy served as assistant defense minister and secretary of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

The new chief of staff of the armed forces played a major role in Egypt’s fight against terrorism in Sinai. The chief of staff of the armed forces holds the highest military rank and is responsible for all armed forces operations inside and outside the country. He reports to the minister of defense. The general staff includes the land forces, the air forces and the navy, and is supported by the following commissions: operations, planning, military education, intelligence, security and logistics.