El-Sisi, speaking during a meeting with ministers and heads of African delegations attending the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo, added that the country is encouraging its companies to expand investments and partnerships across Africa and has launched an agency to guarantee exports and investments on the continent.
During the meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and representatives of the African Union Commission and regional economic communities, El-Sisi highlighted Egypt’s role in capacity-building through the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, which has implemented over 700 training programs across Africa.
He called for further African cooperation to advance peace, security, and development in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, while underscoring the value of the continent’s strategic partnerships with major international powers.
The president said Africa continues to face development challenges, including weak infrastructure, limited financing, and elevated risks, outlining Egypt’s development vision for the continent around five pillars.
The vision prioritizes transport corridors and logistics zones, including energy cooperation and power interconnection, agricultural development and food security, intra-African trade, and cooperation in communications, information technology, and artificial intelligence.
Transboundary rivers
On shared water resources, El-Sisi stated that equitable and fair utilization of transboundary rivers requires joint action.
He urged against unilateral measures that could harm the rights of riparian states or undermine cooperation, in reference to the unilateral Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
He added that Egypt has long worked with Nile Basin countries on joint development projects and has recently supported water and infrastructure initiatives under the Nile Basin Initiative, including a financing mechanism for projects in southern basin states.
Africa security
Turning to regional security, El-Sisi stressed the importance of stability in the Horn of Africa and securing navigation in the Red Sea, describing both as critical to regional and international security.
He said Egypt intends to participate in the new African Union mission in Somalia, referred to as AUSSOM, and is working to secure funding for it.
The president said Egypt is keen to deepen cooperation with African countries to combat terrorism through a comprehensive approach that addresses security, development, and social factors, citing the role of Al-Azhar and the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding.
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