Mohammed Ahmed Sadek

Mohammed Ahmed Sadek
Minister of War
In office
14 May 1971 – 26 October 1972
PresidentAnwar Sadat
Preceded byMohammed Fawzi
Succeeded byAhmed Ismail Ali
Personal details
BornOctober 1917
Al Qatawiya, Sharqia Governorate, Sultanate of Egypt
Died15 March 1991 (aged 73–74)
Children2
Alma mater
Military service
Allegiance Egypt
Branch/service Egyptian Army
Years of service1937–1972
Rank Colonel General
Unit7th Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars

Mohammed Ahmed Sadek (Arabic: محمد أحمد صادق; October 1917 – 15 March 1991) was an Egyptian colonel general who served as defense minister under the rule of President Anwar Sadat.

Early life and education

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Sadek was born in Al Qatawiya, a village in the Sharqia Governorate, in October 1917.[1] He graduated from the Egypt's military academy in 1938 and from M. V. Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union.[2]

Career and activities

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Sadek joined the army and started his military career in the royal guard.[1] He took part in the Palestine war in 1948 and the Suez Campaign in 1956.[2] From 1962 to 1964 he was military attaché at the Egypt's embassy in Bonn.[2] Then he was made the curricula director of the military academy in 1965 where he served until 1967.[2] He was the head of military intelligence from June 1967 to 1969.[2][3] In September 1969, he briefly acted as the general secretary of the Pan Arab Organization, being in charge of military affairs.[2] He was also named as the Chief of the General Staff by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in September 1969.[4] In 1970, Sadek was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.[2]

Sadek was appointed minister of war by Anwar Sadat on 14 May 1971 after the resignation of Mohammed Fawzi.[5][6][7] Upon his appointment, he was promoted to full general.[8] When Sadek was in office, he also held the job of armed forces commander in chief.[9] Sadek was dismissed from office on 26 October 1972,[5] and was put under house arrest.[10][11]

Sadek's anti-Soviet approach was cited as the reason for his dismissal.[9] Another reason given for Sadek's dismissal was his criticisms over Anwar Sadat's approach concerning the war with Israel.[12] Sadek was replaced by Ahmed Ismail Ali as defense minister in October 1972.[13]

Personal life and death

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Sadek was married and had two sons.[2] He died on 15 March 1991.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "الفريق أول محمد أحمد صادق (١٩١٧-١٩٩١)" (in Arabic). Alexandria Library. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Who's Who in the Arab World 2007-2008 (18th ed.). Beirut: Publitec Publications. 2007. p. 689. ISBN 978-3-11-093004-7.
  3. ^ "Nasser appoints two new chiefs". Herald Journal. Beirut. Associated Press. 19 September 1969. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Nasser pushes purge, guerrillas hit hard". Montreal Gazette. Beirut. Reuters. 19 September 1969. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Former Ministers of War and Defense". Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Terrorist plot cited". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 17 May 1971. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  7. ^ Hicham Bou Nassif (Autumn 2013). "Wedded to Mubarak: The Second Careers and Financial Rewards of Egypt's Military Elite, 1981-2011". The Middle East Journal. 67 (4): 514. JSTOR 43698073.
  8. ^ "Cabinet ministers quit in Cairo Feud". The Milwaukee Journal. 14 May 1971. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Egypt's new war minister assumes post". Toledo Blade. Cairo. Reuters. 28 October 1972. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Egypt's Sadek under arrest". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Beirut. Associated Press. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Ex-Egypt War Chief Arrested". The Shreveport Times. Beirut. Associated Press. 30 October 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  12. ^ Imad Harb (Spring 2003). "The Egyptian Military in Politics: Disengagement or Accommodation?". The Middle East Journal. 57 (2): 282. JSTOR 4329881.
  13. ^ "Ex-official of Egypt under arrest". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 30 October 1972. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
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