We hope you have stocked up on salt, because you will need it this month with all the rumors of the cabinet shuffle flying out the woodwork. Economic and sovereign ministers are reportedly among the list of 11 portfolios who will be replaced, government sources tell Al Shorouk. These include the ministers of investment, foreign affairs and the interior. Other ministries who will see new heads include the ministers of higher education, transportation, agriculture, tourism, labor, civil aviation and endowments. Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker will not be replaced in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle, unnamed government officials tell Al Borsa. The source issued a disclaimer stating that this was only a preliminary list and that the public will not hear of the finalized list until right before the announcement. Other sources appear to confirm to Al Masry Al Youm that some economic ministers will be on the out. They also imply Health Minister Ahmed Rady’s departure is a sure thing. Anonymous officials had told the newspaper last week that the economic group ministers charged with managing the reform agenda will not be touched. Security sources have said it was unlikely for Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar will be replaced. We expect the issue to dominate headlines this month, and we urge readers not to succumb to the speculation.

Here’s what we do know: Prime Minister Sherif Ismail told MENA on Thursday that the list was not finalized and that he has been holding meetings on Saturday and today with ministers to set up the list, which will be completed and submitted to the House of Representatives next week. Ismail expects the House to approve the list before the end of the month, according to Reuters. Al Shorouk noted that Prime Minister Sherif Ismail met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to discuss the shuffle.

An inch closer to bringing back Russian tourists? The opening ceremony for the new Russian consulate in Hurghada will be held today, with Russian Ambassador Serge Kirpichenko in attendance, Ahram Gate reports. Last word on tourists coming back was the same as months ago, but this could be a step in the right direction.

Barack Obama’s Friday morning musings: “let’s get this over with.” In case you teleported to the interdimensional realm where Smurf Island now resides, President Donald J. Trump (boy, this is going to take some getting used to) took the oath of office on Friday to become the 45th president of the US. The bad elitists in the room (the media) is reading doom and gloom into his inaugural address, which The New York Times perceive as a rallying call for his populist base. Headlines of the low turnout at his inauguration were topped by news of protests nationwide. Women from around the world (and even the Antarctic) rallied against the incoming president for his misogynist rhetoric during the campaign, Time reports.

Market watchers are one edge over which way the wind blows. After stock markets rallied Friday morning, continuing the upward trend since the election, the inauguration speech put a damper on hopes with allusions to “America first” and “protection,” CNBC reports. Over the weekend, George Soros doubled down on his prediction that a Trump Presidency would be bad for the market in an interview on Bloomberg. PIMCO co-founder and Janus bond strategist Bill Gross was also skeptical. In a speech last Wednesday, Fed chair Janet Yellen reminded Trump in a speech on Wednesday that the Obama administration never pressured the central bank, and urged for the policy to continue. Yellen said she expects interest rates to rise a few times a year until the end of 2019, Market Watch reports.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi issued an official statement to congratulate US citizens on the inauguration.

Turkey is now one referendum away from turning into the Banana Republic of Turkey, after its parliament passed on Friday and succumbed to the tantrums of its whining toddler-in-chief. The new constitution cedes greater executive powers to Erdogan, who has 60 days from signing the new constitution into law to start a referendum. DW has a piece on what to expect from a referendum.

28th African Union Summit begins today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Eyes turn to Gambia after Iongtime Gambian ruler President Yahya Jammeh fled the country after facing an impending invasion from Senegal to force him to honor the results of recent presidential elections, Reuters reports. Election winner Adama Barrow has been invited to attend the African heads of state meeting.

Also taking place today is AmCham’s Business in Africa special luncheon. The meeting, organized in cooperation with the Federation of Egyptian Industries, will highlight business opportunities in Africa.