President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, hosted an Iftar on Saturday for military leaders to honor former Defense Minister General Abdel Mageed Saqr.
The ceremony included the screening of a documentary detailing Saqr’s career and achievements. General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense and Military Production, delivered a speech thanking Saqr for his dedicated service.
Zaher noted that the Armed Forces remains a continuous chain where each generation builds upon the work of its predecessors to maintain peak combat readiness.
In a Saturday statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said President Sisi awarded Saqr the Order of the Republic, First Class, in recognition of his national contributions. The President subsequently issued a decree appointing Saqr as Assistant to the President.
Sisi praised the Armed Forces for protecting Egypt’s national security across all strategic fronts and supporting state institutions to improve citizens’ lives. He emphasized that the nation’s strength lies in the cohesion of its institutions and the unity of its leaders.
Expressing his gratitude to the President and the military leadership, Saqr wished his successor, General Zaher, success in his “sacred responsibility.” He affirmed that the military remains a unique model of devotion in safeguarding the country’s assets.