Egypt’s interim President Adely Mansour promoted Commander Abdel Fattah Al Sisi (photo) to Field Marshal, the military’s highest rank, apparently as an honor before he steps down from the military as required for him to run for presidency.

Egypt’s military on Monday backed a presidential bid by Al Sisi, who overthrew President Mohammed Mursi, state media reported.

Official news agency Mena said an official announcement by Sisi of his candidacy could take place “within hours,” after the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces “unanimously delegated” him to run in presidential elections during an hours-long meeting on Monday.

Sisi, who will resign from the Army to stand for office, is tipped to easily win a presidential election due to be held by mid-April, with no serious rivals.

“The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces by consensus mandated the Defense Minister (Sisi) to stand in presidential elections,” the official Mena news agency reported.

Mursi, the country’s first democratically elected President, had appointed Sisi as his Defense Minister in 2012.

The Army Chief deposed the President in July after millions took to the streets demanding his resignation, after a turbulent year in power.