Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued a presidential decree on Saturday, effective immediately, appointing Lieutenant General Mohamed Farid Hegazi as the new chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces, replacing Lieutenant General Mahmoud Ibrahim Hegazi.

The president has appointed the outgoing chief-of-staff Mahmoud Ibrahim Hegazi, who had served in the post since March 2014, as presidential advisor for strategic planning and crisis management.

The decree promoted the new chief-of-staff Mohamed Farid Hegazi to Lieutenant General.

Mohamed Farid Hegazi graduated from the Military College with a degree in military sciences. He also holds a Master’s degree in military sciences.

The new chief of staff previously served as chief-of-staff and was appointed as head of the second army in 2010.

He most recently served as deputy to the minister of defence.