Egyptian officials fired by Morsy over soldiers’ killing in Sinai

Mohamed Morsy and Egypt's high officials at the
emergemcy meeting

The major shake-up of military and intelligence high ranks happened in Egypt today as President Mohamed Morsy sacked some of the high officials following the recent deadly attack on Egyptian border which left 17 soldiers dead.

Mohamed Morsy has fired the Head of Intelligence Morad Mowafy, who issued a public statement yesterday that Egypt’s Intelligence office has received the information and warning about the terrorist attack. According to his statement, they even have the information about the group committed it, but couldn’t imagine something like that would happen in Ramadan. Spy chief also said the Intelligence did not specify where the attack could happen, so he passed this information to the “relevant authorities”, because the task of Intelligence office is collecting the information. Mohamed Morsy sacked Morad Mowafy today and appointed Mohamed Rafaat Abdel Wahad Shehata as a new Intelligence Head.

The President also ordered Hussein Tantawy, Head of SCAF and Egypt’s Defense Minister, to replace the Head of Military police Hamdi Badeen. The Head of Presidential Guard, Director of Security in Cairo and Director of Central Security forces were also fired. Morsy’s official spokesperson Yasser Ali did not say whether the Sunday’s deadly attack and the following events became the reason for dismissal of the high officials or this move was already planned before.

Mohamed Morsy also fired Abdel Wahab Mabrouk, the governor of Northern Sinai, where the attacks took place.

It is very likely that Egypt’s President have reached the decisions with Egypt’s military and made this move in attempt to take control of the situation. All the dismissed officials were appointed before Morsy was inaugurated as a President either by Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) or earlier by ex-President Hosni Mubarak.