Ahmed Aboul Gheit is the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. Before being elected as Secretary General in July 2016, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt from 2004 to 2011. Aboul Gheit previously served as the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations, from 1999 to 2004. Between 1992 and 1996, he served as Egypt's Ambassador to Italy/Macedonia/San Marino and Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome. He served as Chef de Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt twice, from 1996 to 1999, and 1989 to 1992, and was the Political Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1990. Prior to those duties, Aboul Gheit was Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1987-1989); Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (1985-1987); Political Adviser to the Prime Minister of Egypt (1984-1985); and Political Adviser to the Minster of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (1982-1984). After joining the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1965, Mr. Aboul Gheit was an Attaché/Third Secretary at the Egyptian Embassy in Cyprus in 1968, where he served until 1972. He later served as a member of the staff of the Adviser to the President on National Security Affairs (1972- 1974); Second/First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (1974-1977); Counsellor, Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Aide (1977-1979); and Political Counsellor, Embassy of Egypt in Moscow (1979-1982). Born on 12 June 1942 in Heliopolis, Egypt, Mr. Aboul Gheit obtained a bachelor's degree in economics at Ainshams University, Cairo. He is married and has two children.