Diplomats in Khaki: Egypt's Worrying Militarization of Civil Service
Whether young diplomats, judges, imams, or teachers, more and more new civil servants are required to undergo military training before starting their careers. This is a discriminatory and counterproductive ordeal that reveals the country's all-out militarization, reports the Lebanese website "Daraj."
On June 15, in the courtyard of the Egyptian Military Academy, dozens of young diplomatic attachés, dressed in khaki uniforms, stood at attention for the graduation ceremony at the end of their six-month internship within the Academy's walls. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were there to applaud, while the director of the Military Academy spoke of the importance of these internships in training future civil servants "in the service of the nation."
This scene is a good illustration of Egypt's creeping militarization. For it is just one example of the growing trend toward imposing military training on civil servants. In July of last year, new judicial officials also completed an internship at the same military academy. After the graduation ceremony, the army spokesperson released a photo showing these future judges in camouflage uniforms, surrounded by officers.
The same goes for the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Last April, it was the second class of 550 new imams, graduating after a twenty-four-week internship at the Military Academy. During a ceremony, these imams took an oath of office.
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