Egypt has been chosen to head the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and two other committees starting January 2016, spokesperson to the Egyptian foreign ministry, Ahmed Abu Zeid, said in a statement.

The CTC was established by UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001), adopted unanimously on 28 September 2001 in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States.

Abu Zeid said that the choice of Egypt [to head the CTC] reflects the confidence of Security Council members in Cairo.

The committee, comprising all 15 Security Council members, is tasked with monitoring implementation of Resolution 1373 (2001), which mandates UN member states implement a number of measures to enhance their legal and institutional ability to counter terrorist activities at home.

Abu Zeid also said that Egypt will be heading two other committees at the UN Security Council.

"Egypt will also be heading the commission ... to follow up on the sanctions regime on Iraq, and the commission ... to follow up on penal system [reform] in the Democratic Republic of Congo," the statement read.

In October 2015, Egypt secured a non-permanent UN Security Council seat with 179 votes.

Egypt has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council four times: in 1949-1950, 1961-1962, 1984 and 1996-1997.

Following the announcement, Abu Zeid, said Egypt will work “vigorously” to defend and support African and Arab priorities at the Security Council.