Egypt Reaffirms Support for Sahel States

North African nation, Egypt has moved to strengthen ties with the West African countries that make up the Sahel States Alliance.

The Foreign Minister of Egypt Badr Abdelaty,
during a diplomatic tour across several Sahelian capitals underscored Cairo’s full support for Sahel States Alliance in their ongoing fight against terrorism.

Mr Abdelaty reiterated Egypt’s commitment to supporting the member states of the Confederation of Sahel States in their struggle against terrorism and in consolidating their sovereignty.

Carrying a message from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, the minister began his trip on Monday, with stops in N’Djamena, Ouagadougou, Niamey, and Bamako.

At each stop, he emphasized Egypt’s readiness to “stand by the AES member states in their pursuit of stability, their fight against terrorism, and the defense of their sovereignty.”

In Ouagadougou, Abdelaty stated that Egypt “will continue to provide all forms of support to AES countries in their joint fight against terrorism.”

During his meeting with Captain Ibrahim Traoré, he also commended Burkina Faso for “its support for African unity and its struggle for national sovereignty.”

In Niger, where the first Egypt-Niger Economic Forum was held, some 30 Egyptian business leaders explored partnerships in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure.

A memorandum of understanding was signed to establish a regular political consultation mechanism.

In Bamako, the Egyptian diplomat was joined by a high-level economic delegation. Talks with General Assimi Goïta focused on mining, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Abdelaty reiterated Egypt’s support for Mali “both in terms of security and through ideological and sustainable development approaches.”

Although N’Djamena was officially only a technical stop, it allowed the minister to meet with his Chadian counterpart, Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul.

Their discussions included visa exemptions, preparations for a joint commission scheduled for September and the consequences of the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The Chadian foreign minister reaffirmed his country’s commitment “to support any initiative aimed at restoring peace in this brother nation.”

Throughout the trip, Cairo’s envoy advocated for a South-South cooperation model based on mutual respect and shared interests.

He also sought the support of Sahelian leaders for the candidacy of former Egyptian Tourism Minister Khaled El-Enany for the position of Director-General of UNESCO.

The visits, following Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop’s recent trip to Egypt, reflect the warming of relations between Cairo and the new Sahelian leadership.

Source:Africa Publicity