Egypt’s Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdel-Aati, met on
Friday with the UK Minister of State for International Development and Africa,
Jenny Chapman, to discuss a broad agenda of economic cooperation and regional security.
Minister Abdel-Aati
highlighted the significant potential to increase British investments in Egypt,
citing the improved investment climate fostered by recent structural and
economic reforms. The discussions aimed to push bilateral ties toward broader
horizons across political, economic, and trade sectors.
A primary focus of
the meeting was Egypt’s developmental footprint in Africa. Abdel-Aati detailed
Cairo’s approach to continental cooperation, which prioritises high-impact
infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships. He pointed to the
Julius Nyerere Dam in Tanzania as a flagship model of successful
Egyptian-African collaboration. Furthermore, the Minister expressed Egypt’s
readiness to enhance tripartite cooperation involving international partners,
the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, and African Union bodies
hosted in Cairo.
The two ministers
also touched on the deteriorating situation in Sudan. Abdel-Aati briefed
Chapman on Cairo’s ongoing efforts within the Quad mechanism, which is a
diplomatic initiative launched in September 2025, comprising Egypt, the United
States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. He stressed the
urgent need for an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a comprehensive
ceasefire,a Sudanese-led, inclusive political process, and the establishment of
safe humanitarian corridors to ensure unhindered aid delivery.
Minister
Abdel-Aatihas reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering support for Sudan’s sovereignty,
unity, and the preservation of its national institutions. As for Somalia, the
two ministers discussed the importance of safeguarding its unity. Abdel-Aati
called for expedited funding for the African Union Support and Stabilisation
Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). He also reviewed the current arrangements for
deploying Egyptian forces as part of the mission, a move intended to bolster
counter-terrorism efforts and regional security.
The British official
expressed her appreciation for Egypt’s burgeoning role in fostering stability
and development across the continent. She specifically praised Cairo’s
approach, which integrates security measures with sustainable economic
partnerships.
The UK minister
affirmed London’s commitment to maintaining close coordination with Cairo on
regional flashpoints, including the Sahel and West Africa. Both parties
concluded the meeting by reiterating their desire to expand tripartite
cooperation to build capacity and drive sustainable development across Africa.
Source: The Egyptian
Gazette