Ahmed Aboul Gheit
Ahmed Aboul Gheit | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 12, 1942 Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt |
| Occupation(s) | Diplomat, political figure |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Known for | Secretary-General of the Arab League, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt |
Ahmed Aboul Gheit (, also spelled Abu al-Ghayt or Abu El Gheyt; born 12 June 1942) is an Egyptian diplomat and political figure who has held the position of Secretary-General of the Arab League since July 2016. He secured a second term on 3 March 2021. Prior to this, Aboul Gheit served as Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 11 July 2004 until 6 March 2011 and was Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations between 1999 and 2004. After the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and the removal of President Hosni Mubarak, ICJ judge Nabil Elaraby succeeded him as Foreign Minister. His tenure as Secretary-General of the Arab League commenced on 3 July 2016 following his election in March of that year.
In recognition of his services, he was awarded the French Legion d'Honneur, first class, in 2002.
Early life
Born on 12 June 1942 in Heliopolis, Cairo, Ahmed Aboul Gheit pursued business studies at Ain Shams University, located in Cairo.
Diplomatic career
Beginning his career in diplomacy in 1965, Aboul Gheit progressed through ranks within the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with assignments in cities such as Rome, Nicosia, Moscow, and New York. He played a role in the negotiations that produced the Camp David Accords in 1978, which paved the way for the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. In 1999, he assumed the role of Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations before returning to Cairo in 2004 to oversee foreign affairs.
His early diplomatic roles included serving as Third Secretary at Egypt’s Embassy in Cyprus, followed by First Secretary to Egypt’s UN Ambassador. In 1984, he was a Political Consultant stationed in the Soviet Union and later served as Ambassador to Italy, Macedonia, and San Marino. From 1999 onward, he led Egypt's permanent mission at the United Nations.
Foreign minister
From 11 July 2004 until 6 March 2011, Aboul Gheit held the position of Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. During his tenure, he acted as a mediator in December 2005 during the conflict between Chad and Sudan. In addition, he publicly challenged Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 over remarks perceived as misrepresenting Islam.
On 26 December 2010, he inaugurated Egypt’s inaugural consulate outside Baghdad located in Erbil and engaged with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
Following the removal of President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, Aboul Gheit stepped down from his ministerial role to focus on writing his memoirs.
Secretary-General of the Arab League
Aboul Gheit was chosen as Secretary-General of the Arab League in March 2016, taking over from Nabil el-Arabi despite some debate concerning his age. His official term started on 3 July 2016.
In 2019, he condemned Turkey’s military operation into northeastern Syria as an infringement on Syrian sovereignty. On 11 May 2021, he denounced Israeli airstrikes on Gaza as reckless and lacking discrimination.
Awards and recognition
- Egypt: Grand Cross of the Order of the Republic (Egypt)
- Egypt: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Egypt)
- France: Grand Officer of the Ordre national du Mérite
- Italy: Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Serbia: First Class of the Order of the Serbian Flag
- Russia: Medal of the Order of Friendship
- Japan: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (2025)
Published works
- Egypt's Foreign Policy During Periods of Turmoil: A Personal Account, Cairo, The American University in Cairo Press, 2019
- Observer of Conflict and Reconciliation: Egypt, the October War, and Subsequent Developments, Cairo, The American University in Cairo Press, 2018