Egypt strengthens ties with African neighbors in one week

CAIRO – 2 August 2017: In one week, Egypt has increased diplomatic ties with a number of countries in the African arena; starting with the arrival of Algerian Foreign Minister and Chadian Minister of Defense, ending with Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry traveling to Sudan.

The meetings that have taken place within the past two days included discussions on bilateral and regional issues.

On Wednesday, Shoukry headed to Sudan to lead the Egyptian delegation in political discussions with the Sudanese delegation headed by Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour.

Hours before this, he met with Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel who arrived to Cairo on Tuesday. Both ministers have held a joint press conference.
Messahel also met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and delivered a message from Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Talks between Sisi and Messahel, whose visit to Cairo is part of an Arab tour, will focus on bilateral relations and how to support them, regional and international issues, the situation in Jerusalem and the crises in Libya, Syria, Yemen and the Gulf region and how to combat terrorism.

Later on Wednesday, Sisi met with Chadian Minister of Defense, Bichara Issa Djadallah, to discuss local and regional developments, joint efforts to support stability on the African continent and enhancing military cooperation between the two countries in several fields.
On Tuesday, Sisi approved a diplomatic reshuffle of Egyptian ambassadors abroad, which included the African countries of Morocco, Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Uganda.