Abdul Halim Moussa
Egyptian major general (1930–2003)
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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 | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office January 1990 – 18 April 1993 | |
| President | Hosni Mubarak |
| Preceded by | Zaki Badr |
| Succeeded by | Hassan Al Alfi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1930 |
| Died | 19 July 2003 (aged 73) |
| Alma mater | Police Academy |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Major General |
Early life and education
Career and activities
Moussa served as a director of public security and held the rank of police major general.[3] He was named governor of the southern province of Asyut.[2][3] He was appointed minister of interior by President Hosni Mubarak in January 1990, replacing Zaki Badr in the post.[1][2] 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.[1]
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] In early April 1993 he supported the establishment of a mediation committee by the independent ulemas who opposed the violent activities of the Islamists.[6] 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[7][8] and due to his endorsement of the ulemas' mediation committee plan.[6] The day before his dismissal Moussa stated that a dialogue had been opened towards the Islamic militants.[9] Hassan Al Alfi replaced Moussa as interior minister.[7][8]
Assassination attempts
Moussa escaped unhurt after four assassination attempts all by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad when he was in office as interior minister.[10] The first attempt was in October 1990.[11] However, not Moussa but the parliamentary speaker Rif'at al-Mahjub was killed in the attack.[11] 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.[10]
Controversy
Zaki Badr, Moussa's successor as interior minister, accused him of corruption and wrongdoing in January 1994.[12]