In its plenary session, Egypt’s House of Representatives approved an extended cabinet reshuffle involving 13 ministerial portfolios, the first amendment the country has seen in almost three years.

The changes included the education portfolios taken over by Reda Hegazy, who succeeded Tariq Shawki, whose method of developing the educational process was controversial, as well as the appointment of Khaled Abdel Ghaffar as Minister of Health after he had taken over as the former Minister of Health, having previously taken over a portfolio of higher education.

The House of Representatives also approved the appointment of Hani Swailem as Minister of Irrigation, Ayman Ashour as Minister of Higher Education and Suhi Samir Nasheed as Minister of Immigration, replacing Minister Nabila Makram Ebeid.

The amendments included the appointment of Ahmed Issa Abu Hussain as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Samir as Minister of Trade and Industry, Lt. Gen. Muhammad Abbas Helmi as Minister of Aviation, Hassan Shehata as Minister of Manpower, and Nevin Al-Kilani as Minister. Culture, Major General Hisham Amna as Minister of Local Development, Mahmoud Esmat as Minister of Public Sector Business and Major General Muhammad Salah El-Din, Minister of Defense Production.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced that he has invited the House of Representatives to convene to discuss ministerial amendments to improve the efficiency of the government in several important areas, both at home and abroad.