Egypt's Sisi discusses combating terrorism, bilateral cooperation with Senegal's Sall in Dakar
Ahram Online, , Friday 12 Apr 2019


Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed the means to combat terrorism and to strengthen cooperation with Senegalese President Macky Sall in Dakar on Friday, El-Sisi’s spokesman Bassam Rady said.

El-Sisi arrived in the Senegalese capital on Thursday, where he was received by Sall and a number of officials at the airport, the statement by Rady read.

The pair discussed the means of fighting Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya in different areas in Africa, as well as the means of spreading enlightened Islamic thought in the region of West Africa.

The Senegalese president also praised the role of Al-Azhar in fighting extremist ideology and propagating the central approach of Islam in Senegal, through the strengthening of the mission of the Azhar mission, the preparation of imams, and scholarships for Senegalese students to study in Egypt.

The talks saw a consensus on the necessity of holding an Egyptian-Senegalese Joint Committee in Dakar, to serve as a starting point for further cooperation between the two countries and to enable them to review all aspects of bilateral relations.

El-Sisi accordingly extended an invitation to Sall to visit Egypt in the near future.

The two presidents also witnessed the signing of two memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the areas of media and diplomatic consultation.

During the meetings, the Senegalese president hailed El-Sisi's role as the current chairman of the African Union, praising the Egyptian role in defending African issues on the ground, especially those related to peace, security and development.

The Senegalese president also noted the deep historical relations between the two countries and the need to work in this regard to develop various frameworks of joint cooperation, especially the economic and trade aspects, as well as benefiting from the Egyptian capabilities, broad experience and successful experiences in the fields of infrastructure development, mega-projects, roads, energy and tourism, in support of Senegal's "emerging development plan" for economic development.

El-Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness to continue political consultation with Senegal on various peace and security issues in the continent, believing in the important role played by Senegal in this regard.

The president also expressed Egypt's pride in supporting Senegal's development efforts by providing technical support and capacity-building programmes to prepare Senegalese cadres.

He praised Senegal's ambitious economic development plan and Senegal's economic growth as one of the most successful models on the African continent.

He pointed out Egypt's interest in increasing the volume of trade exchange and investments between the two countries and enhancing the role of the Egyptian business sector in the Senegalese market during the coming period, especially in the fields of construction of infrastructure projects, agriculture, health, science, culture, and information technology.

El-Sisi's visit to Senegal is the fourth leg of his current foreign tour that has seen him visit Guinea, the US and Ivory Coast.

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