El-Menawy's Return, Rise of Mubarak-Era Figures Under el-Sisi: Facts and Implications?

The United Egyptian Media Services Company, affiliated with the General Intelligence Directorate, announced on January 8, 2025, the appointment of journalist Abdel Latif el-Menawy as CEO for news and journalism, and Samir Youssef as CEO for television networks.

This official announcement came two days after reports of el-Menawy’s appointment surfaced in the media, only to be swiftly retracted without explanation, raising questions and speculation.

According to the United Company’s statement, the decision to appoint el-Menawy and Youssef was part of a “systematic development plan” embraced by the company’s board of directors, led by media mogul and businessman Tarek Nour.

Prior to the official announcement, el-Menawy, a figure closely associated with the regime of the late former president Hosni Mubarak, was at the center of an administrative confusion within the United Company.

An Unforgettable History

El-Menawy, who has held various positions throughout his career, has been instrumental in founding and managing news channels, as well as serving as the editor-in-chief of several Egyptian and regional newspapers. 

He is also a published author on political and social affairs and a member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in New York.

El-Menawy has an unforgettable history, dating back to the Mubarak era. When the “January 25 Revolution” erupted in 2011, he was serving as the head of the news sector at Egypt's state-run television. 

His leadership of the sector during this tumultuous period was met with sharp criticism over issues of competence, professionalism, and journalistic integrity.

As Tahrir Square, Qasr el-Nil Bridge, and other Egyptian squares were erupting with angry protests calling for the regime's downfall and Mubarak's departure, amid clashes with security forces and police, the focus of the Egyptian state television cameras under el-Menawy’s leadership was on the empty 15 May Bridge. 

They also took care to film the calm Nile waterfront in front of the Maspero building.

Dozens of employees at the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (at the time) chanted after Mubarak’s resignation and the fall of his regime, demanding el-Menawy’s dismissal from his position and accountability.

Administrative Changes

Samir Youssef, who was appointed alongside Abdel Latif el-Menawy, has a long history of founding and managing major channels during the Mubarak era, including "ART" and "Arab Television." He also served as the CEO of the "CBC" network, owned by Egypt's General Intelligence Directorate, since 2018.

Youssef is considered one of the key figures who was closely associated with the late Safwat el-Sherif, Mubarak's influential media minister.

These sweeping changes followed the dismissal of Ahmed el-Tahry from his position as head of the news sector, amid rumors about financial misconduct, as well as the removal of Mahmoud Muslim, a prominent journalist and head of the Senate’s Culture and Media Committee, from his role overseeing newspapers and online outlets.

El-Menawy’s appointment is seen as particularly significant, as he was given a newly created position overseeing both the news and press sectors. 

This move has sparked growing speculation about the potential transformation of major news channels, such as "Cairo News" (in Arabic and English), "Extra News," and "Extra News Live," into independent entities similar to "DMC" and "CBC."

The news channels owned by the United Company (Cairo News and Extra News) are currently run without the position of "Channel Director," with editorial oversight provided by executive journalists from el-Tahry’s team.

These developments are part of a wider reshuffle that began with the appointment of Major General Hassan Rashad as the head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Directorate.

The United Company had announced its alliance with Tarek Nour Holding Company and al-Mehwar TV Channel to establish a future strategy for developing the media system.

The alliance led to the appointment of industry experts and the restructuring of the board of directors at United Media Services.

The company’s operations now encompass channels such as "CBC," "DMC," "al-Hayat," "Extra News," and "al-Mehwar," in addition to several radio stations.

Reactions from Opponents

A number of Egyptian opposition figures have reacted to the recent changes within the state media apparatus and the return of figures from the Mubarak era.

Politician Hisham Kassem posted on X “After the news of Abdel Latif el-Menawy’s appointment at the intelligence media company was briefly removed a few hours ago, it reappeared in the middle of the night in Cairo, in a manner reminiscent of the phrase ‘Don’t blame me, my son, I have Abdo – one moment he leaves, the next he returns’ (a sarcastic reference to the head of the regime Abdel Fattah el-Sisi).”

Opposition journalist Sherif Mansour wrote, "Some activists and observers have suggested that the return of el-Menawy to head the news and press sectors at the United Media Company, a position he held when writing Mubarak's final speech before his resignation in 2011, might indicate the approach of a resignation speech for el-Sisi."

He then added, posting on X on January 8, “Do you agree with this suggestion?”

A Twitter account under the name Celin Sari wrote, "After seeking the help of Mubarak-era businessmen, el-Sisi now turns to another key figure from Mubarak's regime, Abdel Latif el-Menawy, to head news at the United Media Company."

"The only thing left for him is to bring back Omar Suleiman (Mubarak's former head of intelligence), but that’s difficult—he must be the one to go to him. Let’s just say, 'God willing,'" she continued sarcastically.

Return of the Mubarak Regime

The return of figures from the Mubarak regime to take charge of Egypt's media sector is part of a broader trend of reappointments in strategic and sensitive areas, notably the economic sector.

On December 25, 2024, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with a group of businessmen at the government headquarters in Egypt’s new administrative capital to discuss “challenges facing investment and the private sector in Egypt.”

What stood out in the guest list was the presence of several key businessmen from the ousted Mubarak regime, most notably Ahmed Ezz, a prominent leader of the dissolved National Democratic Party, who was one of the most influential figures in shaping economic policies during Mubarak’s rule.

Also attending was Hisham Talaat Moustafa, who was granted a presidential pardon in 2017 after serving time for his involvement in the murder of singer Suzanne Tamim. 

He had strong ties to the Mubarak regime, including a corruption case in 2011 in which he confessed to the Illicit Gains Authority about selling real estate projects at discounted prices to Mubarak's sons, Gamal and Alaa, for expansion and using their names to bolster his investments.

Another notable figure was Hassan Heikal, son of the renowned journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal. 

Heikal Jr. was acquitted in 2020 after an eight-year trial on charges of stock market manipulation in cooperation with Alaa and Gamal Mubarak.

The meeting also included Yasseen Mansour, CEO of Palm Hills Development, and cousin of Mubarak’s last housing minister, Ahmed el-Maghrabi, who was banned from traveling in 2011 by the public prosecutor. 

At the time, assistant justice minister Assem el-Gohary announced that the judicial committee had gathered evidence of Mansour’s involvement in several criminal activities, including money laundering, with Alaa Mubarak and former tourism minister Zohair Garana.

Earlier, in August 2024, the head of the regime el-Sisi appointed former finance minister during Mubarak's tenure, Youssef Boutros-Ghali, to the "Specialized Council for Economic Development" under the Presidency.

A Disjointed Model

Political researcher Ahmed Ragab argued that the term "the return of Mubarak’s remnants" is inaccurate, suggesting instead that the more fitting phrase is "the resurgence of Mubarak's deep-rooted state."

Ragab explained to Al-Estikal that "Mubarak's state never truly disappeared from power; it merely suffered a major shock during the 2011 revolution, which removed the head of the regime but left the body intact, awaiting a new head to enable it to once again dominate."

"Sisi himself is a product of Mubarak’s state, having served as the head of military intelligence during that era. After the military coup, the new regime attempted to restructure the governmental, media, economic, and even military institutions."

"They encountered two key challenges: first, the lack of qualified individuals capable of leading such a complex process and revamping the state’s deteriorating administrative apparatus; and second, that Mubarak’s loyalists were entrenched and had a deeper understanding of the issues, as they were products of an era that institutionalized and organized corruption."

"What is happening now is an effort to salvage what can still be salvaged," and the return of Abdel Latif el-Menawy, coupled with the sidelining of the generation that el-Sisi had hoped to rely on—led by Ahmed el-Tahry—indicates the failure of Sisi and his bets.

"There are those who are reconfiguring the entire political process in Egypt, either with Sisi’s approval or, at the very least, against his will," Ragab noted.