CAIRO (AP) — Foreign ministers from across the Arab world selected seasoned Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy on Sunday to serve as secretary-general of the 22-nation Arab League, during a period of escalating regional tensions involving Iran.
The veteran diplomat secured backing from Arab foreign ministers during an online conference, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed.
Beginning in July, Fahmy will serve a five-year tenure, replacing Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who has led the Arab League since taking office in 2016.
The selection occurs while Middle Eastern nations face ongoing threats from Iran and allied groups, following extensive military operations conducted by American and Israeli forces starting February 28.
No other candidates competed for the position, following established tradition where Egypt, as the Arab League’s host nation, nominates the organization’s leader since its founding in 1945. The sole exception occurred in 1979 when Tunisian official al-Shazly al-Qalibi assumed the role after Egypt’s membership was temporarily revoked due to its peace agreement with Israel.
Following Egypt’s return to the organization in 1989, the Arab League’s main offices moved back to Cairo, and an Egyptian secretary-general was installed in 1990.
The 75-year-old Fahmy previously held Egypt’s foreign minister position from July 2013 through June 2014, during a period of domestic upheaval after military forces removed an elected Islamist leader whose controversial presidency had divided the nation. From 1999 to 2008, he represented Egypt as ambassador to the United States.
Fahmy established and currently serves as dean emeritus of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at The American University in Cairo.
His father, Ismail Fahmy, held Egypt’s foreign minister role from 1973 to 1977. The senior Fahmy stepped down in opposition to President Anwar Sadat’s groundbreaking Jerusalem visit, which led to Egypt becoming the first Arab nation to forge diplomatic relations with Israel.
