| Ahmed Shafik | |
 Official Portrait | |
| 1st President of Eastern Sahara | |
|---|---|
|
Assumed office 12th January 2012 | |
| Vice President | Kamal Gonzouri |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Hussein Hafez (Interim President of Eastern Sahara) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20th November 1953 Aswan, Egypt |
| Political party | East Sahara Social Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Khalisah Bhashia |
| Alma mater | Cairo University |
Ahmed Shafik is the current President of Eastern Sahara. Elected in January 2012, and was handed office from Mohamed Hussein Hafez, who was in power until first elections in 2012,. Ahmed Shafik was a former senior Commander for the Egyptian Air Force.
After a career as a fighter pilot, and squadron, wing and base commander, Shafik was the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force from 1996 to 2002, reaching the rank of air marshal. Thereafter he served in the government as Minister of Civil Aviation from 2002 to 2009.
Early Life[]
Shafik was born in Cairo in November 1941, after graduating the Egyptian Air Academy in 1961, and joined the Egyptian Air Force, at the age of 20. Later he gained a masters career Military Sciences a Fellowship of High War College from Nasser Military Academy,a Fellowship of Combined Arms from the High War College in Paris, a Fellowship of the National Defense College from Nasser Military Academy and a Ph.D. in "The National Strategy of Outer-Space". Air Marshal Ahmed Shafik received the highest Medals and merits during his service.
Military Career[]
As a young officer, Shafik served as a fighter pilot and was later appointed as fighter air squadron commander. During the 1973 October War, Shafik was a senior fighter pilot under Hosni Mubarak's command. It is believed that Shafik shot down two Israeli aircraft during the war on 14 October 1973.In 1984 Shafik was appointed a military attaché in the Egyptian Embassy in Rome. He continued in this role until 1986. During 1988 to 1991, Shafik served several military senior command positions before he was appointed as the Commander of the Air Operations Department.In September 1991, Shafik was appointed as the Air Force's Chief of Staff, holding this position until April 1996, when he became Commander of the Egyptian Air Force. In 2002,after resigning from the military service, he was appointed as Minister of Civil Aviation and was succeeded by his chief of staff Air Marshal Magdy Galal Sharawi.
Political Career[]
2009 Egypt Elections[]
Shafik ran for presidency in Egypts first presidential elections, with the Egypt Social Democratic Party after the 2009 Egyptian Revolution, and ran against Mohamed Hussein Hafez. Shafik lost the election to the more popular Hafez.
2012 Eastern Sahara Elections[]
In 2011 Shafik ran for the new countries Presidential Elections, and was elected in a landslide vote, ahead of other candidates. The Presidency was handed over in January 2012 from Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, who was appointed as president until the elections. Since the election Shafik has taken a largely liberal stance, more so than was expected. Shafik is a member of the East Sahara Social Democratic Party.
Core Beliefs[]
| Issue | Stance |
|---|---|
| LGBT Rights | YES |
| Gay Marriage | Partial |
| Abortion | Partial |
| Death Penalty | NO |
| Torture Methods | NO |
| Stem Cell Research | YES |
| Weapons of Mass Destruction | YES |
| Radioactive Weapons | NO |
| Biological Weapons | NO |
| Chemical Weapons | NO |
| Equal Rights | YES |
| Innocent Until Proven Guilty | Partial |
| Assisted Suicide | NO |
| Criminal Rights | NO |
| Foreign Interference | Partial |
| Gun Rights | NO |
| Self Defense Rights | YES |
| Freedom of Speech | YES |
| Freedom of Expression | YES |
| Freedom of Religion | YES |
| Freedom of Choice | YES |
| Freedom of Press | Partial |
| Right To Protest/Assemble | YES |
| Right To Privacy | YES |