Abdul Halim Moussa

Abdul Halim Moussa (c. 1930 – 2003) was an Egyptian police major general and interior minister who was in office from 1990 to 1993.

Education

Moussa graduated from the police academy in 1954.^[1]

Career and activities

Moussa served as a director of public security and held the rank of police major general.^[2] He was named governor of the southern province of Asyut.^[1][2] He was appointed minister of interior by President Hosni Mubarak in January 1990, replacing Zaki Badr in the post.^[1][3] 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.^[3]

However, 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] 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.^[6][7] The day before his dismissal Moussa stated that a dialogue had been opened towards the Islamic militants.^[8] Hassan Al Alfi replaced Moussa as interior minister.^[6][7]

Assassination

Moussa escaped unhurt four assassination attempts all by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad when he was in office as interior minister.^[9] The first attempt was in October 1990.^[10] However, not Moussa but the then parliamentary speaker Rifaat Al Mahgoub was killed in the attack.^[10] 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.^[9]

Death

Moussa was diagnosed with cancer in 2002.^[1] He died of cancer at the age of 73 in Cairo on 19 July 2003.^[3]

References