Exclusive: Sisi will appoint navy commander as Egypt's first vice president since Mubarak era

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will appoint navy commander Lieutenant-General Ahmed Khaled Hassan as his vice president, several sources told The New Arab's Arabic-language service.

The commander of the navy was present when President Sisi inaugurated several projects at Port Said yesterday, which the sources said was unusual.

A source within Egypt's military told The New Arab that Chief of Staff of the Navy Ashraf Ibrahim Atwa Mogahed had been ordered to prepare to take over the commander's position.

The sources also said Lieutenant-General Hassan, 61, had grown close to President Sisi in the last two years. President Sisi allegedly consulted the navy commander in matters outside of his usual rapport.   

The navy commander was promoted to his current position in 2017. 

The position of Egypt's vice president has been vacant since 2013, following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi and the crackdown by security forces on his supporters.


The amendments, dubbed the 'Pharaoh motion', allow President Sisi to stay in power until 2030.

The constitutional changes, first introduced in February, by a pro-Sisi parliamentary block, bolster Sisi's powers as president, giving him the authority to appoint high-level judges and bypass judicial oversight on legislation.

The authorities have jailed thousands of Morsi's supporters as well as liberal and secular activists, including a popular blogger, actors, singers and journalists. 

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay connected