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Egypt Affirms Support for Efforts to Combat Terrorism in Africa’s Sahel Region

West African countries suffer from the spread of terrorist groups (AFP)
West African countries suffer from the spread of terrorist groups (AFP)
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Egypt Affirms Support for Efforts to Combat Terrorism in Africa’s Sahel Region

West African countries suffer from the spread of terrorist groups (AFP)
West African countries suffer from the spread of terrorist groups (AFP)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty affirmed on Friday his country’s support for efforts to combat terrorism and extremism in West Africa’s Sahel region.
The Minister held a phone call with Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore. The talks focused on enhancing existing cooperation and exploring new opportunities aligned with both countries' current priorities, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Abdelatty emphasized Egypt's commitment to supporting national capacity building and institutional development in African nations through the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, and the scholarships from Egyptian universities.
He reiterated his country’s support for Burkina Faso’s efforts against terrorism and cross-border crime and highlighted the role of Al-Azhar mission in Burkina Faso in countering extremist ideologies and promoting moderate, accurate representations of Islam.
The Egyptian Minister also expressed Cairo’s dedication to strengthening peace and security in Africa, addressing shared regional and international issues, and responding to the security challenges facing West African countries, particularly in the Sahel and Sahara regions.
Also, in a call with his Nigerian counterpart Bakari Yao Sangare, Abdelatty underscored Egypt's role in assisting Niger in combating terrorism and building national capacities.
Both sides reviewed the latest developments in the Sahel region and West Africa and other regional and international issues.
The ministers also discussed the prospects of strengthening the existing bilateral cooperation frameworks during the coming period, especially in the economic and development fields.
Furthermore, Egypt's FM spoke to his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop, given the “great importance of Mali in the Sahel region of Africa,” as described in the ministry statement.
During the phone call, Abdelatty affirmed Cairo's ongoing efforts to bolster security and stability in West Africa and support national governments in reclaiming sovereignty over their territories and combating terrorism.

 

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As Sudan's Army Retakes Ground, Some Displaced Residents Return to Ravaged Capital

Plumes of smoke rise during clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan, September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
Plumes of smoke rise during clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan, September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
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As Sudan's Army Retakes Ground, Some Displaced Residents Return to Ravaged Capital

Plumes of smoke rise during clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan, September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
Plumes of smoke rise during clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan, September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

The morning sun cast long shadows as Abdulilah Mohamed, an elderly resident of the Shambat neighborhood in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, returned to his family home after fleeing from civil war.

The streets, now strewn with debris and remnants of conflict, led him to a structure barely standing after two years of fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.

"They left nothing behind, they took everything and destroyed everything," he lamented, referring to the RSF as he stood amid the broken walls of his house and the fragments of his family's belongings.

"I came here specifically to assess the situation and see the life, so that my family doesn't come and get confused about what to do. I came first, and then I can evaluate the situation for them here," he added.

Mohamed is one of millions who once lived in the greater capital area, which includes the cities of Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri, and were forced to flee when war broke out in April 2023 amidst a power struggle between the army and the RSF ahead of a transition to civilian rule.

Entire neighborhoods in Khartoum were flattened, though some parts of Omdurman managed to retain access to utilities, Reuters reported.

Now, as the army pushes back RSF fighters and regains ground in the capital, a cautious trickle of residents is making the journey home.

Huda Ibrahim, who fled to Port Sudan - more than 800 km (500 miles) from the capital—said the longing to return had never faded.

"We were forced to stay away," she said, while on a bus en route to Khartoum.

Mohamed Ali, the driver, noted a shift in mood.

"You can sense that their sense of security has grown,” he told Reuters.

But for many, the road home is lined with uncertainty. This conflict has devastated the nation, claiming countless lives and displacing millions.

"Their war now is not a war against the government, it's a war against the citizens and destruction," Mohamed says.

The return of more residents hinges on the government's ability to rebuild.

Rayan Khaled, a young woman who returned from Egypt, highlights the lack of services and electricity as major obstacles.

"I believe that if the government could provide electricity to the people [...] everyone would return to their homes," she said.