Amr Mohammed Moussa Former Secretary General of the Arab League Date of Birth: 03.10.1936 Country: Egypt

1. Early Life and Education
2. Diplomatic Career
3. Minister of Foreign Affairs
4. Secretary-General of the League of Arab States
5. Presidential Candidate
6. Presidential Race
7. Awards and Honors
8. Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Amr Mohammed Moussa was born on October 3, 1936, in Cairo, Egypt. He graduated from Cairo University's Faculty of Law in 1957 and worked as a lawyer for a year.

Diplomatic Career

In 1958, Moussa joined Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he served in various departments and diplomatic missions, including Egypt's mission to the United Nations. In 1974, he was promoted to advisor to Foreign Minister Ismail Fahmi, a position he held until 1977.

After Fahmi's resignation in protest against President Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel, Moussa headed the Ministry's Department of International Organizations from 1977 to 1981 and from 1986 to 1990. In the interim, he served as Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York (1981-1983) and Ambassador to India (1983-1986). From 1990 to 1991, Moussa was Egypt's Permanent Representative to the UN.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

On May 20, 1991, President Hosni Mubarak appointed Moussa as Foreign Minister, replacing Ismat Abdel-Majid, who became Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (LAS). As Foreign Minister, Moussa restructured the ministry, expanding the number of departments and senior positions.

Moussa gained popularity in the Arab world for his outspoken criticisms of Israel and US policy towards Israel. He had a close relationship with Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat. In 1999, Moussa famously refused to shake hands with then-Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon.

Secretary-General of the League of Arab States

In 2001, Moussa was elected by consensus as LAS Secretary-General, a position he assumed after his resignation as Foreign Minister. The LAS, established in 1945, comprised 22 member states, many of which had strained relations.

As Secretary-General, Moussa pursued a policy of consensus, seeking to align the interests of the Arab states and protect their common cause. He faced challenges in addressing the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, with some member states supporting it while others opposed it vehemently.

Presidential Candidate

In 2011, Egypt was swept by mass protests. Moussa took a cautious stance, initially respecting the protesters' demands but not taking active action. As the situation developed, he expressed support for a multi-party system but struggled to articulate a timeline for its implementation. He eventually joined the protesters demanding Mubarak's resignation, although he believed Mubarak should step down at the end of his term in September 2011.

In February 2011, Moussa announced he would not seek a second term as LAS Secretary-General, having decided against serving more than a decade in that role. He subsequently announced his intention to run for President of Egypt in the August 2011 election, citing it as his duty.

Presidential Race

Moussa was considered a front-runner in the presidential race, with his popularity among the public. A poll conducted in late February showed that 49% of Egyptians would vote for him. Other potential candidates included Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei and opposition leader Ayman Nour. Moussa dismissed concerns about his age (75), arguing that Egypt still needed experienced leaders despite the youthful nature of the protests.

On May 15, 2011, LAS elected a new Secretary-General, Nabil El-Arabi, given Moussa's participation in Egypt's presidential election. In April 2012, Moussa was included in the final list of 13 candidates for the Egyptian presidency. However, he ultimately lost to former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq in the election.

Awards and Honors

Moussa has received numerous state honors, including the Egyptian Order of the Nile (2001) and Sudan's Order of the Two Niles (First Degree). He has also received state awards from Germany, Ecuador, Brazil, and Argentina.

Personal Life

Moussa is married with a son and a daughter who is married to the grandson of former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. He enjoys reading, backgammon, and chess.