FM: Egyptian-Senegalese presidential directives to promote bilateral relations

CAIRO – 18 January 2025: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty Saturday said that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Senegalese counterpart Bassirou Diomaye Faye have reaffirmed the importance of developing bilateral cooperation in all political, economic, trade, educational and cultural domains as well as in counter-terrorism efforts.

Abdelatty, during a press conference, welcomed visiting Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yassine Fall and her accompanying delegation, saying that the visit reflects the strength of the time-honored relations between the two sisterly nations.

"Egypt is proud to be the first country in Africa and the second in the world, after France, to recognize the independence of Senegal in 1960," Abdelatty said.

"The 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sisterly countries will be celebrated, with an excellent opportunity to organize several events and exchanged visits to mark the occasion.

"We recall the historic visit of President Sisi to Senegal's capital Dakar in 2019 that contributed to achieving a qualitative shift in relations between the two countries. We also appreciate the visit of Senegal's former president to Egypt in 2022."

Abdelatty underscored the significance of leveraging the solid historical legacy linking Egypt and Senegal that dates back to the close friendship between late Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser and Senegal's first president Léopold Sédar Senghor.

He noted that a major African university in Alexandria governorate is named after Senghor.

The top Egyptian diplomat highlighted the friendship that was shared between late president Anwar El Sadat and former Sengalese president Abdou Diouf.

Abdelatty also shed light on the close friendship between President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Senegalese counterpart Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

He said that he discussed with his Senegalese counterpart ways of enhancing cooperation, in the presence of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Rania al Mashat.

The talks with Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yassine Fall tackled economic cooperation as well as bilateral relations, Abdelatty said.

Abdelatty and Fall agreed on convening the first round of political consultations at the level of foreign ministers shortly.

The foreign minister said that he will visit Senegal in the coming months, upon directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, leading a delegation of Egyptian firms to discuss ways of promoting trade, economic and investment relations.

The talks took up cooperation in the agricultural sector and cultivating new crop varieties, including wheat and rice to achieve food security for both countries, Abdelatty said.

He added that the discussions touched on cooperation in the logistics sector, linking Senegalese ports to the Egyptian ones and the prospects of establishing a shipping route and an air cargo route to boost trade exchange between the two countries.

The meeting discussed establishing joint logistics zones, Abdelatty said, noting that: "Senegal is a gateway to Western Africa, like Egypt which is considered a gateway to the African continent as well as East and South Africa."

Cooperation in the mining sector, oil and gas production, pharmaceutical manufacturing and making medical equipment was discussed during the meeting with the Senegalese foreign minister, Abdelatty said.

He added that the meeting took up cooperation in the security and defense domains, as well as counterterrorism efforts, in light of Egypt's long experience in fighting terrorism.

The meeting touched on Al Azhar's role in promoting the moderate teachings of Islam and hosting Senegalese students, Abdelatty said.

He added that scholarships provided by Université Senghor in Alexandria, the French University in Egypt (UFE) and the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E- JUST) to Senegalese students were highlighted during the meeting.

The meeting discussed the water issue, which is deemed an existential one for Egypt, and the unique experience of Senegal and the countries of the Senegal River basin (Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal), Abdelatty said.

He expressed desire for applying the Senegal river basin model in the Nile Basin region, based on consensus and partnerships along with ensuring commitment to the principles of prior notification and avoidance of harming the interests the downstream countries.

The meeting took up several regional and international issues of shared interest, including the crises in Sudan, Libya and Syria, the foreign minister said.

He added that the meeting touched on the importance of consultation between the two sides at regional and international forums, in particular the African Union (AU) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The talks addressed exchanging support for Egyptian and Senegalese candidates in key regional and international organizations, Abdelatty noted.

Senegalese Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs Yassine Fall, during his joint press conference with Minister Abdelatty, said that Egypt is a key partner for Senegal.

Egypt was the first African country to recognize Senegal as an independent and sovereign state, a matter which is of special importance for the Senegalese people, Fall added.

The top Senegalese diplomat highlighted the crucial partnerships between Egypt and Senegal in several fields. She emphasized the importance of promoting economic cooperation between the two countries.

Egyptian-Senegalese relations are of special importance at the cultural and Islamic faith levels, with a milestone achieved throughout past years in these domains, thanks to the regular training provided by Egypt for Senegalese experts, Fall said.

Senegal has the potential to enhance the agricultural sector, Fall said, noting that Egypt supports her country to increase its production of wheat and rice and develop the irrigation sector, in light of Egypt's considerable know-how acquired over many years.

She added that Senegal's new leadership gives a top priority to bilateral economic cooperation with African countries, particularly Egypt, with a view to supporting the development agenda.

"We are committed to produce what we consume, in line with the development agenda, including pharmaceutical equipment and drugs," Fall said.

She hailed Egypt's great expertise in this vital field, affirming the necessity to benefit from this know-how in cutting-down costs of the pharmaceutical industry.

Senegal is one of the countries that has phosphate production and possesses large mining capacities, Fall said, highlighting Senegal's desire to benefit from the Egyptian expertise to become a strategic hub for phosphate production.

The joint Egyptian-Senegalese efforts have a key role in promoting the status of the African continent at the international level, the Senegalese foreign minister said.

She added that Senegal is looking forward to bolstering cooperation with Egypt, in accordance with the vision of the leaderships of both countries to attain a brighter future.