Sheikh Mohamed offers condolences after death of former Egyptian defence minister

Sheikh Mohamed offers condolences after
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has expressed condolences to Egypt on the passing of the country’s former defence minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, who died on Tuesday at the age of 85.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces expressed his sympathy to “President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and the Egyptian people on the passing of Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi”.

“History will recall the defence minister’s instrumental role in ensuring the stability of Egypt and its institutions. May he rest in peace,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote.

Tantawi served under the late president Hosni Mubarak for 20 years before he became Egypt’s de facto ruler when Mubarak was forced out by a popular uprising in 2011.

He remained in charge for nearly 17 months before he handed power to Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was elected president in June 2012.

Morsi replaced Tantawi two months later with Abdel Fattah El Sisi, then the head of military intelligence. Mr El Sisi led the military’s removal of Morsi in July 2013 amid a wave of street protests against his divisive rule. Mr El Sisi was elected president a year later.

Egypt declared three days of nationwide mourning following Tantawi’s death.

“He was a leader and a statesman who took over at the nation’s helm at a very difficult time during which he faced with wisdom and professionalism the dangers that surrounded Egypt,” the Egyptian presidency said.

Mr El Sisi led mourners as a military funeral was held for the late field marshal outside a suburban mosque named after him in east Cairo.