Egypt Daily News – In a significant development announced by the Egyptian Cabinet, Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly has accepted the resignation of Dr. Yasmine Fouad from her position as Minister of Environment. The resignation comes in light of Dr. Fouad’s recent appointment to a senior international post within the United Nations.
To ensure continuity within the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Madbouly has temporarily assigned Dr. Manal Awad, the current Minister of Local Development, to oversee the ministry’s responsibilities until a new environment minister is officially appointed.
Dr. Fouad’s departure from the cabinet follows her appointment as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), succeeding Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania. The UN Secretary-General expressed deep appreciation for Thiaw’s dedicated service and welcomed Dr. Fouad as his successor after thorough consultations with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric praised Dr. Fouad’s extensive international environmental leadership. He highlighted her pivotal roles, including serving as President of the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP14), and as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Special Envoy to COP27, which was hosted by Egypt in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022.
With a distinguished record in international diplomacy and environmental governance, Dr. Fouad has consistently been at the forefront of multilateral environmental negotiations and initiatives. Her new role at the UN places her at the center of global efforts to combat desertification — a pressing issue linked to climate change, food security, and sustainable land management.
Her resignation marks the end of a notable chapter in Egypt’s environmental policy leadership, during which she spearheaded key national initiatives for sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate action. The government has yet to announce a permanent successor for the post.
