Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called upon the Armed Forces leadership to not fuel rumors that sow internal divide and reiterated his moral and administrative support for the institution at a ceremony on Monday.
While honoring senior and junior army officers near the anniversary of the 1973 War, Sisi urged the Armed Forces’ leadership to boost morale among troops by holding periodic meetings and improving communication with them. He added that the Armed Forces should maintain self-restraint and remain a model of discipline and dedication.
Some observers have questioned the Armed Forces’ resilience in the wake of the 25 January revolution that overthrew former President Hosni Mubarak. In April, Reuters reported on a “mini-revolt” by about 500 officers at an Alexandria air base in October 2011, after they objected to how a colleague was punished.
Earlier this month, the state-run paper Al-Ahram reported that nearly 300 non-commissioned army officers blocked traffic on Cairo’s Ring Road to demand better payment.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
