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From general to de-facto president: the life of Egypt's Field Marshal Mohamad Hussein Tantawi
From general to de-facto president: the life of Egypt's Field Marshal Mohamad Hussein Tantawi
Field Marshal Mohamad Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's first de facto leader after the Mubarak era, has passed away at the age of 85. °®Âþµº takes a look back at his life and legacy.
2 min read
Field Marshal Mohamad Hussein Tantawi served under four Egyptian premiers before being appointed the first de facto rule in the post-Mubarak era [Getty]
Former Head of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) Ìýpassed away Tuesday aged 85.
His death was announced by Cairo on Tuesday, whichÌýremembered his time as a military man during Egypt's past conflicts and in peace.
"Egypt lost…[also] the ex-former general commander of the Armed Forces and minister of defence and military production…one of its most loyal sons and a military idol, who had served his country for more than 50 years," read a presidential statement.
"TantawiÌýwas one of the heroes of the glorious … a statesman who ran the country in a most difficult time, confronting with wisdom the [threats] surrounding [the country]."Ìý
Born in Cairo in 1935, TantawiÌýwas one of the only high-ranking army officers of Nubian origin. He graduated from the military academy in 1956 and, later, from the command and staff college in the same year.
TantawiÌýserved during the reigns of four late presidents: Gamal Abdel-Nasser, Anwar Sadat, Hosni Mubarak, and briefly, Mohamed Morsi.
He took part in several wars including the 1967 Ìýwith Israel, as well as the 6 October War in 1973, serving as the commander of a combat unit in the infantry.
In 1988, TantawiÌýwas appointed as the head of the presidential guard. Three years later, he served as the defence minister and the general commander of the armed forces. In 1993, Mubarak awarded him the rank of field marshal.
On 11 FebruaryÌý2011, following an 18-day anti-regime , Tantawi became the "de facto" head of Egypt after Mubarak , assigning the country to the military junta, SCAF.
In August 2012, Morsi issued a decreeÌýthat saw Tantawi retire andÌýending his career in the army. TantawiÌýkept a low profile till the day he died.
Being the head of SCAF at that time, Tantawi's name was tainted by several atrocities including the referral of thousands of Islamists and pro-democracy activists - who initiated the 2011 revolution - to whose verdicts cannot be appealed.
He also headed the army whenÌýpeaceful protestersÌýwereÌýÌýby security forces on more than one . Female protesters were also forced to undergo Ìýduring his tenure as army chief, which stirred the outcry of the international community.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, who came to power following a military coup in 2013, said TantawiÌýwasÌý"the reason why Egypt didn't fall at [the post revolution] stage".
In his brief speech, Sisi used the opportunity to slamÌýthe Muslim Brotherhood, designated a terrorist group in Egypt.
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