Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty met with several African heads of state and senior officials on Sunday to discuss regional security, infrastructure development, and economic integration on the sidelines of the African Union summit.
Abdelatty held discussions with President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic and Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute of Cameroon, conveying greetings from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. The minister emphasised Egypt’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and joint cooperation to support stability and development across the continent. Both Touadéra and Ngute praised Al-Sisi’s leadership and Egypt’s “pivotal role” in advancing joint African action, expressing their countries’ desire to deepen ties in economic, trade, and investment fields.
The diplomatic engagements included a meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto and discussions with the Foreign Minister of the Comoros, Mohamed Mbaye, and the Minister of External Relations of Cameroon, Lejeune Mbella. These talks focused on supporting infrastructure projects, enhancing regional economic integration, and exchanging views on regional and international issues, specifically regarding the maintenance of peace and security in Africa. Abdelatty also conferred with United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the President of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union, Luis Sissoko, to discuss multilateral institutional reform and the challenges of economic development.
During a session on the African Union’s membership in the G20, Abdelatty stated that the continent’s inclusion in the group represents a strategic opportunity to amplify Africa’s voice in global economic governance. He congratulated South Africa on its presidency of the group and urged African nations to coordinate their positions to push for the reform of the global financial system and the policies of multilateral development banks.
The minister underscored the importance of finding sustainable solutions to the sovereign debt crisis and enhancing innovative financing mechanisms. He concluded by calling for a periodic update of the union’s priorities within the G20 and the establishment of clear monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the membership results in maximum benefits for African populations.
