Manal Mikhail becomes Egypt’s first Coptic Christian female Governor

For the first time in Egypt’s history, a Coptic Christian woman has been appointed as provincial Governor.

Manal Awad Mikhail was sworn in on Friday before Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi as the new Governor of Damietta.

Mikhail is the second woman to become a governor of Egypt, after Nadia Ahmed Abdou was appointed Governor of Beheira in 2017.

POLITICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CAREER

In 2015, Mikhail joined the Ministry of Agriculture’s Institute of Veterinary Serums and Vaccines for Research and Studies. Shortly afterwards, Mikhail was appointed deputy governor of Giza.

As Deputy Governor, Mikhail was responsible for coordinating a number of activities with both local and international non-governmental organisations and managed a number of local projects, mainly related to environmental issues.

Mikhail, 51, graduated with a degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Benha followed by a Master’s Degree and a PhD in Natural Sciences from the University of Alexandria in 1999.

For her work and research in the field of immunology, she has received numerous awards at national and international level throughout her career, including a UNESCO prize last year.

22 NEW GOVERNORS

The new reshuffle of governors has changed 22 governorates, with five female deputy-governors in The Red Sea, Giza, Beheira, Al-Qaloubiya, and Al-Wadi Al-Gedeed.

Egypt’s current Cabinet includes eight female ministers, the highest in the country’s modern history.

Coptic Christians are a minority group in the predominantly Muslim Arab north African nation. Their churches have in the past being attacked by terrorist groups.