Caring for citizens, resolving issues priority: new deputy governor

CAIRO – 28 November 2019: Haitham al-Sheikh, a young figure who was appointed on Wednesday as deputy Dakahlia governor, said the priority of the new deputy governors would be caring for citizens, alleviating their suffering, and focusing on resolving their problems.

He said that the new deputy governors received instructions from President Sisi in this regard.

Appointing Sheikh, 35, comes as part of the state’s efforts to involve youth in executive positions and increase their representation in the political process, according to officials. Several youth on Wednesday were appointed as deputy governors but will receive periodic courses, according to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and will be continuously assessed.

Sheikh said, in an interview with private newspaper Al-Watan, that ensuring a fair representation of youth was one of the challenges announced by President Sisi, adding that the new appointments are a step toward empowering youth.

He noted that it was time for the empowerment of young people to be implemented on the ground, affirming that youth are who taking care of high-level posts worldwide. On the other hand, Sheikh affirmed readiness to learn from those are more experienced in such field.

Sheikh, born in Alexandria governorate, obtained his master's degree in media in 2015, and recently became a spokesman for the Coordination Committee of Party's Youth Leaders and Politicians (CPYP).

He worked as a lecturer in the department of Media, in the Faculty of Arts. He was also a journalist for Egypt’s state Middle East News Agency.

Sixteen newly appointed governors, and thirteen deputies sworn in on Wednesday morning at al-Ittihadiya Presidential Palace, sources said, ahead of an expected ministerial reshuffle.

The sources revealed that the newly appointed governors and deputies have different political backgrounds, among them prominent youths from opposition parties.

President Sisi met with the newly-appointed officials and told them that the state has given them the chance to implement their ideas as young people, Madbouly said, adding that they will meet with the president after few months for the second time.

Madbouly noted that periodical follow-up will be implemented to assess the work of the new deputies.

The government is keen to involve young people in all fields including local executive work, he said, adding that the deputy governors would receive intensive training courses.

Madbouly noted that Sisi ordered selecting people for the executive posts with institutional high competency based on scientific qualifications, experience and acquired skills.

The state, last time, involved 12 deputy governors from the young people, Madbouly said, adding that such step has yielded positive results, and therefore the state has tended to expand this successful experience.

Madbouly added that those young people would be able to gain much experience while performing their executive duties, which will later enable them to take posts that are more prominent.

He noted that most of the youth appointed during the current and the last amendments are in the thirties, adding that some of them hold a master's degree, while others have a doctorate.

Analysis: appointment of opposition youth as deputy governors unprecedented

CAIRO – 27 November 2019: As newly appointed governors and deputy governors were sworn in on Wednesday, the Egyptian state has made a historic step as it has appointed political youth from opposition parties in senior executive positions.