Egypt president asks housing minister to form new government

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi on Thursday appoints a new prime minister, picking his housing minister Mustafa Madbouly to form a government.

The appointment comes three days after the outgoing premier, Sherif Ismail, submitted his government’s resignation, in keeping with political tradition at the start of a new presidential term. El-Sissi was sworn in on Saturday for a second, four-year term in office, after being re-elected in a vote in which he faced no serious challengers.

El-Sissi and Ismail are known to enjoy a close working relationship. Ismail sought medical treatment in Germany late last year. He returned home a month later showing considerable weight loss, some of which he has since regained.

During Ismail’s treatment in Germany, Madbouly served as acting prime minister in November and was widely seen as likely to succeed Ismail.

— AP