Egypt: General Intelligence Chief Replaced

Muhammad Farid al-Tuhami

General Muhammad Farid al-Tuhami (often El-Tohamy), the powerful head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service was replaced over the weekend. Tuhami has generally been seen as a close ally of President al-Sisi, and he was Sisi's former superior in military intelligence. He was named to the GIS post immediately after Muhammad Morsi was deposed.He has been a major architect of the strong crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

The official reason being given is that he was replaced for health reasons, and it is reported he recently had a hip replacement.

He has been replaced by his Deputy, Khalid Fawzy, on an Acting basis.