Malabo: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration Badr Abdelatty held a series of bilateral meetings with his African counterparts as well as senior officials of the African Union (AU).
According to State Information Service Egypt, the meetings included foreign ministers from Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania, Djibouti, Somalia, Angola, Burundi, Gabon, and Mauritania, alongside AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, Director-General of the AU Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Space Agency (AfSA) Tidiane Ouattara, and Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Wamkele Mene.
These discussions were conducted on the sidelines of Abdelatty's participation in the 47th ordinary session of the AU's Executive Council in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tamim Khallaf reported that the minister emphasized Egypt's commitment to bolstering bilateral ties with African nations. The meetings centered on mechanisms to enhance bilateral cooperation and fortify trade, investment, and economic relations.
The talks also explored Egypt's potential contributions to major development projects across Africa, leveraging the expertise and capabilities of leading Egyptian companies in key sectors such as energy, construction, healthcare, and infrastructure. Additionally, the discussions included an exchange of views on regional developments, underscoring the importance of coordinating positions within African and international fora and intensifying joint efforts to foster regional integration and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the continent.
Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's ongoing efforts to support development in Africa, particularly through the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD). This agency, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has contributed to building the capacities of thousands of African professionals and implementing development projects in sectors like health, education, agriculture, water, and energy. He expressed Egypt's aspiration to expand EAPD's programs and initiatives to benefit more African states, as part of its commitment to supporting African partners and promoting sustainable development across the continent.
Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's steadfast commitment, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and as Chair of the Steering Committee of Heads of State and Government of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), to deepening South-South cooperation and advancing continental integration, particularly through the AfCFTA, in line with Egypt's strategic orientation toward strengthening economic partnerships in Africa.
He further emphasized the importance of strengthening joint African action and fostering unity in the face of challenges, reaffirming Egypt's commitment to playing a pivotal role in supporting efforts to achieve development, peace, and stability across the continent. He also reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to supporting the AU's Agenda 2063 and advancing regional integration and sustainable development.
Abdelatty highlighted the importance of supporting specialized African institutions, notably the AfSA, noting Egypt's full backing for the Agency and its readiness to enhance its capabilities, particularly with Cairo serving as its host city. He expressed appreciation for the African support extended to Egypt's candidate Khaled el-Anany for the position of Director-General of UNESCO, noting that such support exemplifies the spirit of African solidarity. He stressed the importance of preserving a unified African voice in international forums to advance the continent's aspirations and strengthen its position within multilateral organizations.