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

1. "Deaths". Sarasota Herald Tribune. 21 July 2003. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
2. Michael Collins Dunn (March 1990). "The Fall of Zaki Badr: A Victory for Egypt's Opposition Press". Washington Report. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
3. "Abdel Halim Moussa, 73; Egyptian Official Reached Out to Rebels". Los Angeles Times. 22 July 2003. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
4. Abdalla, Ahmed (January–February 1991). "Mubarak's Gamble". MERIP. MER 168 (21). Retrieved 6 September 2013.
5. Sinha, P. B. (1998). "Threat of Islamic terrorism in Egypt". Strategic Analysis. 22 (8): 1193–1213. doi:10.1080/09700169808458874.
6. Ibrahim, Youssef M. (19 August 1993). "Egyptian militants blamed in attack on security chief". The New York Times. p. 1.
7. Ami Ayalon (1995). Middle East Contemporary Survey: 1993 – Vol. 17. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Retrieved 14 October 2013. – via Questia (subscription required)
8. Mattoon, Scott (June 1993). "Terror Makes Its Mark". The Middle East (224).  – via Questia (subscription required)
9. Mounir Adib (5 September 2013). "Different minister, same assassination method". Al Masry Al Youm. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
10. 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