Egypt’s PM set to reshuffle cabinet; EU envoy Badr Abdelatty reportedly to head Foreign Ministry

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly’s cabinet is set for a long-awaited reshuffle, local media reports, with changes including new finance and foreign ministers expected to be sworn in today.

The new government faces challenges including the Gaza war on its border, economic woes and persistent power cuts which have frustrated Egyptians and shut down some factories.

State television reports that Ahmed Kouchouk is set to become finance minister and faces perhaps the biggest challenge in managing a stumbling economy and skyrocketing debt.

At the foreign ministry, state TV citing local channel ExtraNews reports that Egypt’s ambassador to the European Union Badr Abdelatty would replace Sameh Shoukry, who has steered the country’s diplomatic efforts to negotiate between Hamas and Israel in their almost nine-month war.

Karim Badawi will be appointed as petroleum minister and Mahmoud Esmat as electricity minister, Egypt’s ExtraNews reported.

Rania al-Mashat, former minister of international cooperation, will be re-appointed as minister for planning, economic development and international cooperation, the outlet says.

Sherif Farouk, chairman of Egypt Post, is set to take over at the supply ministry, media reports say.