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My academic experience at the faculty was a upheaval because Israel was still occupying

key pillar to prepare us for the Foreign Service Sinai. Personally, I was among those who
exams, particularly the written and oral tests. It joined the demonstrations outside the
broadened our minds and equipped us with the University gates, youth were filled with anger
needed means to handle the responsibilities and longed for decisive action to end the
and duties of a diplomatic career. Many Israeli occupation and I was actively involved
professors left a great effect on me, among in the political movements at the time.
them Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali, who taught But our activism did not stop at
me African studies and due to his influence, I demonstrations. We still had magazines that
was convinced that Egypt’s future and we wrote in ourselves. Regular meetings held,
strategic depth lie in Africa. and meetings with officials from the socialist
this believes guided me throughout my entire union and youth organization. I also immersed
Title
diplomatic career from the very start I was myself in every student activity available at
keen to work on African affairs even when I the faculty cultural, athletic, artistic, political,
was appointed as an ambassador to Denmark , and even religious. This environment left a
Name- Major- Year
I still requested to be sent instead to Ethiopia, deep Print on me and made me the person I
as I said I felt that my true calling was in the became later on in my life.
African continent , although I eventually As for the professors each of them inspired us
served in Europe . I still carried a sense of on their own way for example Dr. Hamed
disappointment because my heart was still tied Rabei was considered one of the intellectual
to the African continent and in this sense the Giants of the faculty at that time. Overall the
faculty actually had a great impact on shaping teaching stuff had significant figures at that
my orientation within the foreign ministry time, and I hope that the current generations of
itself. students will one day reach the same level of
excellence as those professors. As I mentioned
earlier, Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali had a
particularly strong influence on me specially
through shaping my interest toward Africa, in
reality every professor that I studied with had a
great role in shaping my path.
Q.3) From your experience building
diplomatic relations in post conflict
countries such as Rwanda and South Africa. ELITE’s Seventh Anniversary (2018-2025)

What were the main challenges that you
Q.2) What memories from your university faced in such countries?

years still stand out to you? Was there a The main challenges for me were representing
particular professor or subject that Egypt and safeguarding its interests abroad,
inspired you personally or professionally? while also protecting the Egyptian community,
My time at the university was extremely particularly in countries experiencing political
significant as it was a time of intense political crises, such as South Africa and Rwanda.
activism under President Anwar Al-Sadat and Another major challenge, central to our
the aftermath of the 1967 setback. As a mission at the Foreign Ministry, was ensuring
university student, we were in a state of the safety of Egyptian nationals living abroad.

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