Sherif Ismail

The new government, headed by former Petroleum Minister Sherif Ismail, came after state-friendly media had begun slamming his predecessor Ibrahim Mehleb and the prosecution began investigating several officials for allegedly receiving over $1 million in bribes.

Local media accused Mehleb and his ministers of incompetence and being out of touch with the public. El-Sissi, the former general and defense minister who led the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, was spared the media lashing.

The office of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said that he had accepted the resignation but that the ministers would continue to serve until a new body is appointed. El-Sissi tasked Petroleum Minister Sherif Ismail with forming a new Cabinet within a week, two officials from the president's office said.

Prior to handing in his resignation, Mehleb gave a report detailing the performance of the government, which both officials said el-Sissi found "unsatisfying."