High-ranking officials need presidential sign-off on diplomatic missions: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced yesterday that senior officials embarking on diplomatic missions will be required to obtain presidential approval, according to a decree published in the official Gazette (pdf). The requirement applies to the prime minister and his deputies, the ministers of defense, interior, justice and foreign affairs, as well as independent watchdog and security agencies heads. All other high-ranking officials will need prior approval to travel from the prime minister’s office.