Hussein Mahmoud Hassan el-Shafei (Arabic: حسين محمود حسن الشافعي; 8 February 1918 – 18 November 2005) was an Egyptian military officer who was a member of the Free Officers Movement and served as vice president under two Egyptian presidents, Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat. He was one of the nine men who had constituted themselves as the committee of the Free Officers Movement and led the country's cavalry corps during the uprising, and was one of only three last-surviving members of the Revolutionary Command Council at the time of his death.

Hussein el-Shafei
حسين الشافعي
Vice President of Egypt
In office
20 March 1968 – 16 April 1975
PresidentGamal Abdel Nasser
Anwar Sadat
Preceded byAli Sabri
Succeeded byHosni Mubarak
In office
16 August 1961 – 30 September 1965
PresidentGamal Abdel Nasser
Preceded byNur al-Din Kahala
Succeeded byAli Sabri
Minister of Defense
In office
17 April 1954 – 31 August 1954
PresidentGamal Abdel Nasser
Preceded byAbdel Latif Boghdadi
Succeeded byAbdel Hakim Amer
Personal details
Born(1918-02-08)8 February 1918
Tanta, Sultanate of Egypt
Died18 November 2005(2005-11-18) (aged 87)
Cairo, Egypt
Military service
Allegiance Kingdom of Egypt
 Egypt
Branch/service Egyptian Army
Years of service1938–1975
Rank Colonel
UnitCavalry
Battles/wars

Early life and education

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Born in Tanta in 1918, el-Shafei graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1938.[1]

Career

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El-Shafei was appointed minister of war in 1954 and served as Egypt's minister of labor and social affairs during Egypt's merger with Syria. He served as vice-president under Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1961.

 
Hussein el-Shafei

During his tenure as minister of social affairs, el-Shafei introduced social insurance reforms considered radical at the time, including pensions to widows. His Winter Charity campaign provided Egypt's poor with basic necessities. Some Egyptian celebrities took part in the "mercy trains" which delivered the goods, including actress Faten Hamama.

Anwar Sadat appointed el-Shafei as vice-president of Egypt's new government in 1971 and he was succeeded by Hosni Mubarak in April 1975.

Death

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El-Shafei died on 18 November 2005. Mubarak was among the senior officials at el-Shafei's state funeral.[1]

Honours

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Foreign honours

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Sobhi, Samir (24–30 November 2005). "Hussein El-Shafei (1918–2005)". Al Ahram Weekly. 770. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  2. ^ Stela, Wojciech (2008). Polish orders and decorations. Warsaw. p. 49.
  3. ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1965" (PDF).
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Sporting positions
Preceded by President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee
1960–1962
Succeeded by