Cairo: Egypt’s contentious constitution, drafted by an Islamist-led assembly and approved in a referendum last December, makes the head of state the supreme commander of the army with power to appoint and sack the military.
Article 194 of the charter states that the Armed Forces belong to the people and undertake the mission of protecting the country and preserving territorial integrity. The army cannot dismiss the president, but experts say, protecting national security as stated in the constitution makes this move part of the mission.
The constitution makes the president’s right to declare war or send forces abroad conditional on consulting the National Defence Council, which he heads, and getting approval of parliament’s majority.
According to Article 195, the defence minister is the army’s general commander and has to be selected from the army.
