U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reviews his notes before a meeting with Egyptian Minister of Defense General Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi (right) in Cairo, Egypt, on November 3, 2013. Photo: State Department.

JNS.org – Egypt’s powerful defense minister General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will not run for president, according to an official Egyptian government source, ending widespread speculation that he will seek the office.

“He is expected to continue in his post until all the issues regarding the election laws are resolved,” the government source told Reuters.

El-Sisi, 59, was recently promoted to the rank for field marshal, the highest military rank in Egypt, which many had seen as precursor for retiring from the military, a necessary step for becoming president.

On Monday, Egypt’s entire cabinet, led by Prime Minister Hzem el-Beblawi, abruptly resigned without explanation. But many of the ministers have been reappointed under new interim Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Egypt’s government, El-Sisi remains a widely popular figure for his role in the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi and the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. The upcoming presidential election is seen as a major milestone in the Egyptian military’s transition to civilian rule.