UPDATE: Sisi tasks oil minister Sherif Ismail to form new government

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has tasked Saturday Sherif Ismail – the oil minister in the Ibrahim Mahlab’s outgoing government – to form a new cabinet within a week.

Agriculture Minister Salah El-Din Helal was detained Monday after tendering his resignation amid an investigation into allegations that he and others received over US$1 million in bribes.

Sisi routinely emphasizes that he is fighting corruption.