Reshuffling the Egyptian Army

Though it's still unclear what role, precisely, the Supreme Council of the Armefd Forces (SCAF) will retain when Egypt's new Constitution is ready, Gen.‘Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi, named Defense Minister last month, has redefined the SCAF membership in the wake of last month's retirements and has also announced another round of retirements of senior generals. The first move seems merely to formlize what had never been very clearly defined. As for the second, it is not immediately clear if, like last month's changes, it merely removes the aging senior command leadership while moving other officers up in normal promotion order, or if it is aimed at rewarding particular political views. Last month's dramatic changes were accepted by the armed forces (most likely) because the removal of the aging senior command opened up new opportunities for promotion, proving popular among younger officers, but did not change the military institution itself or alter the chain of advancement.