Diaa Rashwan: A Distinguished Journey Through Journalism, State, and Politics
Diaa Youssef Ahmed Rashwan, the current head of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), stands out as one of the most prominent figures in Egypt’s media and political landscape in recent decades. His reputation is built on a solid academic background and extensive professional experience in journalism and strategic studies.
Born on January 1, 1960, in the village of Al-Mahameed in Armant, Qena Governorate, Rashwan grew up in a politically engaged family. His father, Youssef Rashwan, served as a member of parliament and the Shura Council for several consecutive terms.
After earning a bachelor's degree in political science from Cairo University in 1981, he pursued graduate studies in France, obtaining a master’s degree in political history from the Sorbonne University in 1985. Upon completing his studies, he joined the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies as a researcher and expert, embarking on a long research career that spanned decades. During the 1990s, he also served as a visiting scholar at several academic institutions in France and Japan, which enriched his professional profile with significant international exposure.
In 2011, Rashwan was appointed Director of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, succeeding Dr. Gamal Abdel Gawad. This role added an important administrative and professional dimension to his academic work. On the syndicate front, he was elected President of the Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate in March 2013, re-elected in March 2019, and once again won the midterm elections in April 2021 — reflecting the strong trust he enjoys within the Egyptian journalistic community.
In June 2017, a presidential decree appointed him as Chairman of the State Information Service, Egypt’s official body for external media affairs. The following month, he was named a member of the Supreme Council for Combating Terrorism and Extremism, chaired by the President and composed of top officials and public figures. Rashwan also participated in the “Committee of Fifty” that drafted Egypt’s 2014 Constitution. From 2013 to 2015, he served on the Supreme Press Council as the Journalists’ Syndicate representative and was appointed a member of the National Press Authority in April 2017, the body responsible for managing Egypt’s state-owned press institutions.
Through this rich and diverse career, Diaa Rashwan continues to play multiple roles across media, politics, and intellectual life—blending academic professionalism with field expertise and maintaining his standing as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Egyptian public life.
