Egypt: Changes at the Ministry of Antiquities

Mamdouh Eldamaty

In Egypt, a new cabinet headed by Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab has been formed. Al Ahram in Egypt presents a biography of the new ministers and those who are returning to their posts in the new cabinet. There was no mention of a Minister for Antiquities ('Who's who in El-Sisi's new cabinet'Ahram Online, Monday 16 Jun 2014), though they named the Minister of Culture as Gaber Asfour. The Cairo Post however gives the information (New Cabinet includes 34 portfolios with 13 new ministers Jun. 16, 2014) that the new Minister of Antiquities is Mamdouh el-Damaty. Both Minister Ibrahim and the Egyptian State Information Service seem unaware of the change, on 16th June he was in Hungary discussing the return of three objects and the signing of an MOU.