Abdul Halim Moussa
Abdul Halim Moussa (Arabic: عبد الحليم موسى; c. 1930 – 2003) was an Egyptian police major general and interior minister who was in office from 1990 to 1993.
Abdul Halim Moussa عبد الحليم موسى | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office January 1990 – 18 April 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Zaki Badr |
| Succeeded by | Hassan Al Alfi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c.1930 |
| Died | 19 July 2003 (aged 73) Cairo, Egypt |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Alma mater | Police Academy |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Major General |
Education
Moussa graduated from the police academy in 1954.[1]
Career and activities
Moussa served as a director of public security and held the rank of police major general.[2] He was named governor of the southern province of Asyut.[1][2] He was appointed minister of interior by President Hosni Mubarak in January 1990, replacing Zaki Badr in the post.[1][3] Moussa's appointment was commonly welcomed by the Egyptian public.[4] Unlike his successor, he adopted a conciliatory approach toward Islamic groups during his term.[3]
However, in December 1992, Moussa argued that there were more than 2,000 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in Sudan and that they were training Egyptian extremists in the camps.[5] Moussa's term lasted until 18 April 1993 when he was fired by Mubarak due to his failure in ending the violence perpetrated by Islamic insurgents.[6][7] The day before his dismissal Moussa stated that a dialogue had been opened towards the Islamic militants.[8] Hassan Al Alfi replaced Moussa as interior minister.[6][7]
Assassination attempts
Moussa escaped unhurt after four assassination attempts all by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad when he was in office as interior minister.[9] The first attempt was in October 1990.[10] However, not Moussa but the then parliamentary speaker Rifaat Al Mahgoub was killed in the attack.[10] In the last attempt, Moussa's driver, who was a relative of the group, was killed and perpetrators apologized to the family of the driver.[9]
Death
Moussa was diagnosed with cancer in 2002.[1] He died of cancer at the age of 73 in Cairo on 19 July 2003.[3]
References
- "Deaths". Sarasota Herald Tribune. 21 July 2003. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
- Michael Collins Dunn (March 1990). "The Fall of Zaki Badr: A Victory for Egypt's Opposition Press". Washington Report. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- "Abdel Halim Moussa, 73; Egyptian Official Reached Out to Rebels". Los Angeles Times. 22 July 2003. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
- Abdalla, Ahmed (January–February 1991). "Mubarak's Gamble". MERIP. MER 168 (21). Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- Sinha, P. B. (1998). "Threat of Islamic terrorism in Egypt". Strategic Analysis. 22 (8): 1193–1213. doi:10.1080/09700169808458874.
- Ibrahim, Youssef M. (19 August 1993). "Egyptian militants blamed in attack on security chief". The New York Times. p. 1.
- Ami Ayalon (1995). Middle East Contemporary Survey: 1993 – Vol. 17. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Retrieved 14 October 2013. – via Questia (subscription required)
- Mattoon, Scott (June 1993). "Terror Makes Its Mark". The Middle East (224). – via Questia (subscription required)
- Mounir Adib (5 September 2013). "Different minister, same assassination method". Al Masry Al Youm. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- Hope, Bradley (22 March 2012). "Long-time Islamist prisoner faces a whole new Egypt". The National. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Zaki Badr |
Minister of Interior 1986–1990 |
Succeeded by Hassan Al Alfi |