Egypt swears in new government

The new government sworn in on Saturday is headed by Sherif Ismail (seen left, with el-Sissi in above photo), the former oil minister, the state-run newspaper al-Ahram reported.

Ismail was replaced in his former position by Tarek al-Mullah, the former head of the state oil company, who will be tasked with attracting more foreign investment in the petroleum sector, which like other areas has been negatively affected by years of political turmoil after the ouster of autocrat Hosni Mubarak in an uprising in 2011.

Other key portfolios, including finance, defense, the interior, foreign affairs and justice, have been kept as they were.

State television reported that new chief prosecutor, senior judge Nabil Sadeq, was appointed to replace Hesham Barakat, who died in a car bombing more than two months ago.

The previous government resigned amid a scandal involving the then minister of agriculture, Salah Helal, who was this month arrested with some of his aides on suspicion of having used his power to cover up the seizure of state-owned land by a businessman.

Troubled country

The newly appointed administration faces a number of challenges.

Militant attacks on Egyptian security forces on the rise after elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi was toppled by the army in 2013 amid mass protests against his rule. In a recent and dangerous development, the jihadist group "Islamic State," which has wrought havoc in Iraq and Syria, has gained the support of "Sinai Province," the most active militant organisation in Egypt.

The country is also struggling to find its economic legs again after the unrest following Mubarak's departure, though recent economic reforms introduced by al-Sissi have met with international approbation.

tj/rc (dpa, Reuters)