Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Egypt’s prime minister pauses televised news conference after falling ill

A spokesperson said Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly is taking medication, including antibiotics

Ap Correspondent
Wednesday 18 December 2024 18:18 GMT
Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly
Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Egypt's prime minister was forced to briefly pause a televised news conference on Wednesday after experiencing some dizziness, a government spokesperson said.

Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, 58, was speaking at the new administrative capital in Cairo during his weekly Cabinet news briefing when he felt unwell, grabbed the microphone stand tightly and asked for a pause.

According to Cabinet spokesperson Mohamed el-Homsani, the prime minister felt dizzy and had to pause his remarks but was soon better and resumed the briefing after a few minutes.

Madbouly was speaking about President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi 's meetings at home and abroad.

El-Homsani said Madbouli was exhausted, had experienced a severe cold days earlier but refused to rest and was tired after leaving the office late Tuesday. He also had several meetings on Wednesday morning, before the news conference, the spokesperson said, adding that the prime minister is taking medication, including antibiotics.

Egypt Prime Minister
Egypt Prime Minister (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Madbouly, an architect by profession, became prime minister in 2018.

Egypt is hosting an eight-country economic cooperation summit in Cairo on Thursday with Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Nigeria and Turkey due to attend the gathering.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in