Sisi firmly backs reconstructing post-conflict African areas: FM

CAIRO - 7 February 2019: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi attaches great importance to reconstructing post-conflict African areas and linking African states all together, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said.

In an interview with state-owned MENA on the sidelines of the executive council of the African Union (AU), Shoukri said that the president will meet with African leaders and officials during his participation in the African Summit in Addis Ababa, which is set to be held later in February.

Egypt's leadership of the African Union is greatly expected to contribute to strengthening inter-African relations, Shoukri said, adding that it will probably find solutions to current conflicts inside the continent, MENA reported.

In January 2018, Egypt has been elected as chair of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government for a one-year term in 2019.


Sameh Shoukri holds a meeting with Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf - Courtesy of the MFA spokesperson

On the sidelines of the executive council, Shoukri held a meeting with Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, during which they discussed establishing an Egyptian free logistic zone in Djibouti, which aims at reviving the economic situation of the states of the Horn of Africa, Ahmed Hafez, Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The Horn of Africa encompasses the four states of Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia.

Shoukri highlighted the role played by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD) through providing training programs for Djiboutian people in the fields of medicine, energy and diplomacy, Hafez said. He also lauded the EAPD's efforts to provide medical aid to the Egyptian dialysis center in Djibouti.



Meeting also with Alie Kabba, Sierra Leone's minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Shoukri praised the role played by the African country's President Julius Maada Bio, as the coordinator of the AU Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government.

Shoukri also reviewed Egypt's vision to work with all African partners during its presidency of the AU this year.

He also displayed the Egyptian presidency's priorities, including addressing economic integrity, social and economic development, peace and security, bridging between different cultures and civilizations of the African peoples and ensuring cooperation with partners.


Sameh Shoukri meets with Alie Kabba, Sierra Leone's minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation - Courtesy of the MFA spokesperson

Shoukri also met with Burundian Foreign Minister Ezechiel Nibigira. During the meeting, Shoukri affirmed the importance of the bilateral relations between Egypt and Burundi, expressing Egypt's keenness to develop these relations in various fields to meet the aspiration of the Burundian people in terms of development, security and stability.

The 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Foreign Ministers kicked off on Thursday, Feb. 7 at the headquarters of the AU Commission.

The two-day meetings will set the stage for the 32nd African Summit, during which President Sisi will receive the AU presidency.

AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki stressed the importance of topics to be discussed at the summit, which will convene under the theme: "Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa."