Cairo: Egypt’s former foreign minister Ahmad Abul Gheit was Thursday night named the secretary-general of the Arab League for a five-year mandate, Egyptian state television reported.
He replaces his compatriot Nabil Al Araby, who has held the post since 2011, according to the broadcaster. Last month, Al Araby said he would not seek a second term.
Approving Abul Gheit as the sole contender for the post was delayed for hours due to Qatar’s objection.
“We have followed Arab consensus on Egypt’s nomination of Abul Gheit for the position of the Arab League’s secretary-general,” Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said in a press conference that followed the Arab foreign ministers’ endorsement of the Egyptian diplomat.
“We announce our reservation about the personality of the nominee.” The Qatari official did not give an explanation for his country's reservations.
Abul Gheit is the eighth secretary-general of the Cairo-based Arab League since it was created in 1945.
He served as Egypt’s foreign minister for seven years until 2011. He was sacked from the post weeks after a popular uprising forced long-president Husny Mubarak to step down.
Abul Gheit, 73, will have to steer the 22-member organsation through regional turmoil and an upsurge of militant violence. He will take office in July.
