Sisi ensures shoo-in election, keeps rearranging staff
People are questioning the timing of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s appointment of a close associate as acting intelligence director ahead of the presidential election.
![EGYPT-FRANCE/ RTX2AG6P.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2018/02/RTX2AG6P.jpg/RTX2AG6P.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=jaMMAoaN)
CAIRO — Despite having no real challengers, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is shoring up his support in the March election, surrounding himself with his closest, most loyal advisers — the ones he hasn't fired, that is.
Sisi fired Khaled Fawzy as director of the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) on Jan. 19, replacing him with Maj. Gen. Abbas Kamel — Sisi's chief of staff — as acting director. Sisi had appointed Fawzy as GID director in December 2014. No reason was given for Fawzy's dismissal, though there has been plenty of speculation.