By Nourhan Fahmy and Amira El-Fekki

Khaled Fawzy was appointed as director of the General Intelligence Directorate(GIS) succeeding Mohamed Farid El-Tohamy, who served since July 2013, after President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi issued a presidential decree.

“El-Tohamy left his post due to a health problem that prevented him from carrying on his duties,” security expert Hossam Sweilam told Daily News Egypt Sunday. Sweilam denied allegations that El-Tohamy was dismissed from his post, adding: “On the contrary, Al-Sisi has honoured El-Tohamy on the occasion.”

The Chief of Intelligence Services is always appointed by a direct presidential decree, Sweilam said.

Abdel Hamid Mohamed, a major general in the GIS, confirmed the procedure, explaining that El-Tohamy had been assigned to head the intelligence services by Al-Sisi.

In the presidential decrees issued Sunday, Al-Sisi referred El-Tohamy to pension and granted him a first-degree honorary republican award as a sign of appreciation for his work.

The president also appointed Fawzy to assume the position as of 21 December, and appointed Mohamed Tarek as his deputy.

El-Tohamy, who was head of the Administrative Control Authority under Mubarak, came under harsh criticism after the 25 January Revolution, and was later fired by former President Mohamed Morsi. After Morsi’s removal, President Al-Sisi brought back El-Tohamy as the director of the GIS.

Khaled Fawzy was previously the head of the National Security Authority, part of the General Intelligence Service, and was also the advisor to the director of the GIS.

Security expert Major General Sameh Seif Al-Yazal explained in a phone interview on CBC channel that the National Security Authority is responsible for investigating espionage cases and protecting the state from acts of sabotage or vandalism.

The Egyptian intelligence community consists of three main branches: the General Intelligence Service; the Office of Military Intelligence Services and Reconnaissance; and the Egyptian Homeland Security, previously known as the State Security Investigations.

The General Intelligence Directorate(Gihaz Al-Mukhabarat Al-‘Amma) is responsible for providing domestic and foreign national security intelligence. It was long chaired by Omar Suleiman from 1993 until 2011.