Khaberni - On Monday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi decided to present the Order of the Nile to US President Donald Trump in recognition of his contributions to supporting peace efforts and defusing conflicts, most recently his role in stopping the war in Gaza.
What is the Order of the Nile, the highest Egyptian honor?
According to the official website of the Egyptian presidency, the Order of the Nile is the highest and most prestigious Egyptian decoration, holding the first rank. It is personally awarded by the President of the Republic, and its recipient is granted a patent signed by him. The recipients of the order are honored with a military salute at their death.
The history of the order dates back to 1915 during the reign of Sultan Hussein Kamel. It is the highest order in Egypt, followed by the Order of the Republic in second place, and then the Sash of the Nile in third place.
According to Article 4 of Law No. 12 of 1972, the Order of the Nile may be bestowed upon heads of state, crown princes, and vice presidents, and may also be granted to those who provide significant services to the nation or humanity.
The order is made of gold or gilt silver and consists of a chain with alternating three square units, each unit decorated with enamel and pharaonic symbols. The units are connected at the corners with two parallel chains, each centered with a small lotus flower, and the three units repeat sequentially.
The first chain symbolizes the protection of the country from evils, the second represents the prosperity and happiness brought by the Nile, and the third signifies goodness and permanence. Each unit is connected to the other by a circular flower decorated with a circle of red beads, and in the middle, a blue bead. Rings are attached in the centers of the square units, and the units are secured at the corners on both sides of the chain.
The order features a clasp in the form of two lotus flowers. It is circular in shape and decorated with pharaonic flowers, enamel, red and blue beads. In the center, there is a prominent design representing the symbol of the Nile, united between the north (papyrus) and the south (lotus flower).
Among non-Egyptians, the order has been awarded to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, Sultan Qaboos of Oman, former Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, former South African President Nelson Mandela, Emperor Akihito of Japan, and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.
Among Egyptians, the order has been awarded to Presidents Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat, Mohamed Naguib, Hosni Mubarak, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Adly Mansour. Furthermore, it has been awarded to Dr. Ahmed Zewail, an Egyptian Nobel laureate in Chemistry; Dr. Magdi Yacoub, a world-renowned heart surgeon; Naguib Mahfouz, an Egyptian Nobel laureate in Literature; Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, a former Vice President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, former Minister of Defence; and Lieutenant General Saad el-Shazly, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces during the October Victory.
