Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt has appointed a new defense minister.

The government has appointed Chief of Staff Gen. Sidki Sobhi as Egypt’s new defense minister. Sobhi replaces Abdul Fatah Sisi, who declared his candidacy for president.

Officials said Sobhi, a veteran infantry officer, would also become the new commander of Egypt’s military. Under the appointment by President Adly Mansour, Sobhi was promoted from lieutenant-general to the rank of general.

Like Sisi, Sobhi was trained in the United States. In 2005, Sobhi was sent to the U.S. Army War College under a fellowship and later promoted to command the Egyptian Army’s 3rd Field Corps.

In 2012, Egypt’s first Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, appointed Sobhi as the military’s chief of staff. Sobhi replaced longtime chief, Gen. Sami Anan, an appointee of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Officials said Sobhi played a major role in the military crackdown on
the ousted Muslim Brotherhood.

They said Sobhi was also involved in Egypt’snegotiations with Russia for fighter-jets, attack helicopters and air defense systems. Sobhi’s successor as chief of staff was identified as Gen. Mahmoud Hegazi, whose daughter is married to one of Sisi’s sons.

As part of the crackdown, the government has frozen suspected financiers
of the Brotherhood. A government committee has ordered the seizure of bank
accounts belonging to five non-governmental organizations affiliated with
the Brotherhood. So far, Cairo has seized the assets of more than 710
Brotherhood members.

  Abdul Fatah Sisi, Adly Mansour, Gen. Sidki Sobhi, Sisi’s replacement as Egypt’s defense minister was also trained in U.S.