Who is Ramzy Ezzeldin, El-Sisi’s first presidential political adviser

CAIRO – 15 April 2026: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has appointed veteran diplomat Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy as his first-ever presidential political adviser, according to an official decree published in the state gazette.

The decision, No. 166 of 2026, names Ramzy as Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs for a one-year term starting April 6, marking the first time the position has been established.

Ramzy, 72, brings more than four decades of diplomatic experience, having served in the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the United Nations, and the Arab League.

His areas of expertise include conflict resolution, mediation, international security, disarmament, and non-proliferation.

His most recent international role was as Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Special Envoy for Syria from September 2014 to March 2019.

Ramzy also served as Assistant Foreign Minister for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Assistant Minister for Disarmament and International Security, according to news website Masrawy.

Ramzy held several successive ambassadorial posts, including Egypt’s ambassador to Germany, Austria, and Brazil, Slovenia, Guyana, and Suriname.

He was Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, where he also chaired the International Atomic Energy Agency between 2003 and 2007.

Earlier in his career, he served as deputy chief of mission at Egypt’s embassy in Washington, political counsellor in Moscow, and second secretary at Egypt’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York.

Ramzy also headed the Arab League’s permanent mission to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna between 2013 and 2014, and represented Egypt in numerous international conferences and forums, including those of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the UN General Assembly.

Beyond diplomacy, he has contributed opinion articles to regional and international publications and has participated as a speaker in major global forums including the Munich Security Conference and the Manama Dialogue.

Ramzy earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the American University in Cairo and a PhD in international economics from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom.