Cairo: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi expressed Egypt's complete support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during a meeting with President F©lix Tshisekedi. Present at the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam, and Congolese Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Elebe Ma Ndembo, as reported by Presidential Spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy.
According to State Information Service Egypt, President El Sisi voiced Egypt's backing of the US-brokered peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, along with the Doha process, which involves negotiations between the DRC government and the M23 rebel group under Qatar's mediation. The spokesman noted that President El Sisi commended President Tshisekedi's involvement in the Grand Egyptian Museum's inauguration, highlighting the strong historical ties between the two nations. El Sisi expressed his anticipation of a forthcoming visit from Tshisekedi to further strengthen Egypt-DRC cooperation.
El Sisi reiterated Egypt's commitment to supporting the DRC in addressing economic challenges, emphasizing the strategic relationship between the countries. President Tshisekedi expressed gratitude for Egypt's ongoing support, acknowledging the progress in bilateral relations and Egypt's role in fostering development in Africa, particularly in the Nile Basin region.
The discussions also covered cooperation among Nile Basin countries, where both leaders highlighted the importance of consensus among states sharing transboundary rivers to secure mutual interests and support development. El Sisi confirmed Egypt's dedication to the Nile Basin Initiative as a collaborative platform for advancing common goals. The leaders agreed on maintaining close coordination on mutual concerns, with Egypt ready to offer full support to the DRC.
President El Sisi also underscored that Egypt's foreign policy is guided by principles, values, and respect for international law, and seeks stability and peace in friendly nations rather than resorting to force or conspiracy to serve its interests.