Africa, women empowerment set to be Sisi's focus in G7 summit

CAIRO – 25 August 2019: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected on Sunday to speak about the issues of the African continent and the partnership between the G7 member states and Africa, as well as efforts to achieve peace and progress in the continent.

The Summit of the Group of Seven countries of the most advanced economies is being held in France's Biarritz from August 24 to 26.

Sisi's speech is also expected to highlight the need to make use of the continent resources, strengthen the security and peace infrastructure. Issues may also include fighting corruption, empowering women, and improving the economy and education in Africa.

Egypt became head of the African Union (AU) for one year since last February, when Sisi received the presidency of the AU from his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame at the inauguration of the 32nd summit.

The three-day summit, which convene under theme “Fighting Inequality,” addresses a number of issues, including international security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, human trafficking and illegal migration, combating inequality and supporting women empowerment especially in Africa, the global economic and financial system, as well as environmental, climate and diversity issues.

G7 stands for seven countries (U.S., the UK, Japan, Italy, Germany, France and Canada), which represent 40% of the global GDP, according to the official website of the Elysee.

France had previously hosted the G7 summits for six times since the establishment of the group in 1975 to tackle global issues of peace, security, health, education, environment, climate change, counterterrorism, etc.

In October 2017, President Sisi paid France a four-day official visit, during which he tackled bilateral and international and regional issues with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Elysee Palace.

On January 28, 2019, Macron paid Egypt a three-day visit, during which the bilateral relations, as well as the crises in Syria, Libya, Palestine, and Africa were discussed.