Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty receives his Beninese counterpart Shegun Adjadi Bakari in Cairo. Photo: Egyptian foreign ministry
Abdelatty said Egypt is closely watching developments in the Sahel, where a worsening security crisis is fuelling instability across African borders, including countries as far afield as Sudan, Libya, and the Gulf of Guinea.
He pledged Cairo’s support for Benin’s efforts to counter terrorism and said Egypt remains committed to African-led peace initiatives, including its participation in the AU Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The two ministers also discussed flashpoints elsewhere on the continent, including the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and conflicts in the Middle East.
FM Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s mediation efforts to halt the Israeli war on Gaza and outlined the key principles guiding Cairo’s approach to the Sudanese crisis.
Egyptian-Beninese bilateral ties and development
The meeting also focused on deepening ties between Egypt and Benin, particularly in trade and infrastructure.
Abdelatty said Egypt is eager to expand investment across energy, sanitation, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and agro-industry sectors. Egyptian private firms are strongly interested in entering the Beninese market.
He pointed to Egypt’s development programmes, noting that 366 Beninese nationals have participated in 208 training courses offered by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD).
The ministers also discussed joint efforts to counter extremist ideology, including religious outreach through Al-Azhar and EAPD-led initiatives.
To cement ties, the two countries signed agreements on diplomatic training and visa exemptions for holders of national passports to ease travel and official cooperation.
According to Egypt's foreign ministry, Bakari’s visit falls within the political consultation framework established between Egypt and Benin in 2000.
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