Al-Sissi's cabinet reshuffle brings back Egypt's information ministry
dpa
CAIRO (dpa)– Egyptian lawmakers on Sunday approved a cabinet reshuffle proposed by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi that reinstates the country's ministry of information to regulate the work of local media.
Usama Heikal was named minister of state for information, a portfolio that was removed in 2014 and replaced by the Supreme Media Regulatory Council.
The return of the information ministry comes amid increased media censorship and a crackdown on dissent.
Egypt said recent measures regulating the media were necessary to prevent instability as the country struggles to revive its economy and combat an Islamic insurgency in northern Sinai.
The ministers of defence, interior and foreign affairs have kept their positions in the new cabinet, while Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has been assigned the additional role of minister of investment and administrative reforms.
The ministries of tourism and antiquities were merged and assigned to Khaled Anani.
Egypt has recently stepped up efforts to revive its battered tourism industry, which is a main source of national income.
The new cabinet includes Omar Marwan as justice minister, Rania al-Mashat as international cooperation minister, Nivine al-Qabah as solidarity minister and Nivine Gamie as trade and industry minister.
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