Sisi to receive Eritrean President at Al- Ittihadeya palace Saturday

CAIRO - 8 June 2019: President abdel Fatah al-Sisi will receive his Eritrean counterpart President Isaias Afwerki at Al-Ittihadya palace, according to a Saturday statement issued by presidential spokesman Bassam Rady.

Erirean President arrived Saturday in Cairo for a two-day visit to the Egyptian capital.

Afwerki is expected to meet a number of officials to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the latest developments in Africa and issues of mutual concern.

In January, the Eritrean President visited Egypt emphasized efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Egyptian-Eritrean relations

After Eritrea had gained its independence from Ethiopia, following a long civil war on borders, on May 24, 1991, Egypt was among the top countries enhancing political, economic and diplomatic relations with Eritrea.

In this regard, Cairo and Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, signed a Friendship and Cooperation Agreement on March 31, 2009, as well as a Protocol of Cooperation between the National Council for Youth in Egypt and National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS) on December 14, 2009.

Since the June 30 revolution, which Eritrea has supported at the African Union level, President Afwerki visited Egypt several times; the most recent two visits were in 2014 and 2016 to further enhance the deep relations between the two countries.

Delegations from Egypt and Eritrea have met several times over the last few years to intensify the coordination between them in various sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, trade, culture, education and health.

The Egyptian delegation of the Agriculture Ministry visited Asmara in 2016 to meet with Eritrean Agriculture Ministry’s general director and head of poultry and research departments to discuss means of fostering bilateral relations in the agricultural field.

During the meeting, the Egyptian delegation discussed establishing a joint model farm in Eritrea and signing a memorandum of understanding to bolster relations in research, training, developing crops and poultry fields.

Moreover, in April 2017, an Egyptian delegation from the national company for fisheries and aquaculture headed to Eritrea. The delegation was welcomed by Afwerki and his economic adviser to discuss ways to put into effect the protocol on the cooperation in the field of fisheries, signed between the two states in Cairo in March 2017.

Egypt and Eritrea also seek to activate the joint committee aiming to boost bilateral cooperation in all fields. It is also worth mentioning that the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD) provides Eritrea with continuous technical assistance.

Moreover, the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education has provided many scholarships to Eritrean students.

Regarding the medical field, Egyptian Fund for Technical Assistance sent in 2010 medical aid to Eritrea and signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of medical cooperation and medical products in 2010.

Additional report with Marina Gamil