Egypt Seeks to Deepen Ties with African Nations to Counter Common Challenges

18 September 2024, Egypt, Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference at Tahrir Palace. (dpa)
18 September 2024, Egypt, Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference at Tahrir Palace. (dpa)
TT

Egypt Seeks to Deepen Ties with African Nations to Counter Common Challenges

18 September 2024, Egypt, Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference at Tahrir Palace. (dpa)
18 September 2024, Egypt, Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference at Tahrir Palace. (dpa)

Egypt held a series of contacts and consultations with African officials to boost its relations throughout the continent.

Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty held telephone talks on Friday with his counterparts from Kenya, Congo Brazzaville and Guinea Bissau to discuss regional and international developments.

Experts said the contacts aim at “deepening Egypt’s presence in Africa.”

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the talks tackled bilateral ties and means to strengthen them.

They discussed cooperation in various fields, including development, the economy, trade and investment.

The discussions underlined the importance of supporting development in Africa and achieving economic integration between its countries.

They stressed the need to intensify consultations and coordination to confront common economic, development and security challenges.

Abdelatty said Cairo was ready to support Congo Brazzaville through offering technical assistance and helping inaugurate sustainable development projects.

Former assistant minister of foreign affairs Ambassador Salah Halima noted that Egypt has intensified its talks with African countries in recent months.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the contacts aim to deepen its bilateral relations with African nations and to consult over pressing issues facing the Horn of Africa, Red Sea, central Africa and Sahel regions.

Former member of the Council for Foreign Affairs Ali al-Hafny told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egypt’s ties with Africa are now stronger than ever, noting the series of contacts and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visits to various African countries.

Abdelatty had last month visited Gabon and Chad. Talks with officials focused on joint coordination over regional issues of common concern.

Al-Hafny said combating terrorism, resolving conflicts and supporting bilateral relations in the fields of infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and food and water security are top concerns in Africa.



Iran Confirms Receiving 'Messages' from New Syrian Government

Western countries successfully moved a resolution at the IAEA to censure Iran over its nuclear program - AFP
Western countries successfully moved a resolution at the IAEA to censure Iran over its nuclear program - AFP
TT

Iran Confirms Receiving 'Messages' from New Syrian Government

Western countries successfully moved a resolution at the IAEA to censure Iran over its nuclear program - AFP
Western countries successfully moved a resolution at the IAEA to censure Iran over its nuclear program - AFP

Iran said Saturday that it had received messages from the new government in Damascus following the ouster of its longtime Syrian ally, former president Bashar al-Assad, AFP reported.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is indirectly in contact with Damascus," Tehran's special envoy for Syrian affairs Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani was quoted as saying by the state-run IRNA news agency.

The diplomat said Iran had "also received messages" from Syria, but did not specify the intermediary country facilitating the communication.

Sheibani was responding to a question about recent comments by Syria's foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, regarding communications with Iran, according to IRNA.

"Our view of the developments in Syria and the restoration of relations with Damascus is forward-looking," Sheibani said, emphasizing that Iran was "thoughtfully" monitoring the situation there.

Iran, a staunch ally of Assad's regime, evacuated its diplomatic mission in Syria in December when opposition forces, led by current interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, overthrew the government.

Sharaa said in December that Syria "cannot continue without relations with an important regional country like Iran".

He added that ties between Damascus and Tehran "must be based on respect for the sovereignty of both countries and non-interference in the affairs of both countries".

Iran had provided assistance to Assad during Syria's civil war, helping him claw back control of swathes of the country.

Sheibani, who previously served as Iran's ambassador to Syria, reiterated Tehran's position that the "future and destiny" of Syria must be determined by Syrians alone.

"The stability and peace of Syria are of particular importance to us, and we are against any foreign interference in the affairs of this country," he said.