Nabil Fahmy Elected as Secretary-General of the Arab League

Ambassador Nabil Fahmy. (Wikimedia Commons/Chatham House)

JAKARTA - Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy was elected as Secretary-General of the Arab League, according to a statement from the 22-nation organization.

Fahmy, who was elected unanimously at the 165th Regular Session of the Arab League Council in Amman, Jordan on Monday, replaced Ahmad Aboul Gheit, who is also a former Egyptian Foreign Minister.

"This election reflects the appreciation for Nabil Fahmy's diplomatic experience and his long professional career, in which he has contributed to supporting Arab action in the regional and international arenas," the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, launching Anadolu (23/6).

Nabil Fahmy, who will start his duties on July 1, is the 9th secretary-general. He is the 8th Egyptian citizen to hold the post.

Based on the Arab League Charter, the secretary-general is appointed by at least a two-thirds majority of member states, as quoted by The National.

Although the text does not establish a special citizenship for the holder of the post, traditionally the post is held by Egyptians.

The only non-Egyptian to hold the post was Chedli Klibi of Tunisia, who occupied the position from 1979 to 1990, a period when Egypt was ostracized by other Arab countries for making peace with Israel.

Founded in 1945, the Arab League coordinates political, economic, and cultural policies across the region.

However, the institution is now seen more as a forum for debate than a regional policy mover like the European Union.

Fahmy was elected amid rising regional insecurity and increasing mistrust of the Arab League's ability to support its member states.

Leaders of the Gulf countries, which were the targets of Iranian missiles and drones during the regional war triggered by Israeli and US attacks, were critical of the pan-Arab body's passive response to the attacks.