Egypt Says Cooperation with African Partners a ‘Top Priority’

Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture hands over training certificates to envoys of African countries. (The official website of the Egyptian Cabinet)
Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture hands over training certificates to envoys of African countries. (The official website of the Egyptian Cabinet)
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Egypt Says Cooperation with African Partners a ‘Top Priority’

Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture hands over training certificates to envoys of African countries. (The official website of the Egyptian Cabinet)
Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture hands over training certificates to envoys of African countries. (The official website of the Egyptian Cabinet)

The Egyptian government views cooperation with African nations as a “top priority,” said Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, whose country concluded training workshops for 32 envoys from 11 African states, in addition to India, Armenia and Sri Lanka, in partnership with the World Food Program (WFP) through the Luxor Coordination Center for Sharing Knowledge.

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Al-Sayed Al-Quseir handed over the training certificates in a ceremony on Tuesday, in the presence of Hamdi Loza, Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs, WFP Director Praveen Agrawal, and a number of African ambassadors.

Underlining the necessity of cooperation with international organizations and development partners, Al-Quseir noted that his country was implementing major agricultural projects, saying the sector was one of the most important lifelines for world economies.

Agriculture is no longer only crucial for food security, but has also become a national security factor, according to the minister.

He added: “We are pleased to train our colleagues from African countries and to present the Egyptian experience and the tremendous development that agriculture has witnessed over the past seven years...”

Al-Quseir pointed to an agreement with the World Food Program to develop the Luxor Coordination Center for Sharing Knowledge into a training platform for all African countries.

For his part, Agrawal said: “The WFP and UN agencies believe that the ambitious and the transformed agenda of 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without the ideas, energies, and tremendous support of the countries of the global, where we live in.”

On Monday, Madbouli met with a delegation from members of the Governance Council of the Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program.
In remarks, the Egyptian premier stressed that strengthening cooperation with Arab and African partners was a “top priority” for the government, in light of the great health, economic and social challenges facing the world.

He added that Egypt would continue to contribute to the African continent’s efforts to achieve sustainable development, and help unlock the huge potential of African cooperation through various multilateral trade agreements and economic cooperation platforms that enhance partnerships.



Israel Expands Syria Intervention Under ‘Druze Protection’ Pretext

Syrian Druze fighters participate in the funeral of those killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in Sweida on Saturday (AFP)
Syrian Druze fighters participate in the funeral of those killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in Sweida on Saturday (AFP)
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Israel Expands Syria Intervention Under ‘Druze Protection’ Pretext

Syrian Druze fighters participate in the funeral of those killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in Sweida on Saturday (AFP)
Syrian Druze fighters participate in the funeral of those killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in Sweida on Saturday (AFP)

Israel expanded its involvement in Syria, launching one of its most intense airstrikes in years on Friday night and into Saturday morning.
The broad operation included what Israeli media described as “covert operations,” which ranged from air drops of humanitarian aid to evacuating wounded individuals to Israel, along with other undisclosed activities.
The Israeli military carried out an extensive offensive across Syria between Friday and Saturday, targeting military sites, air defense systems, and ground-to-air missile infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the army distributed aid to the Druze community in the southwestern city of Sweida and evacuated five wounded individuals to Israel.
Reports in Israel indicated that a helicopter landed in Sweida, dropped off the aid, evacuated the wounded, and then took off shortly after.
These reports are often used by Israeli media when military censorship prevents the release of details from within the country.
The Israeli military announced that its fighter jets launched a series of airstrikes in Syria, less than 24 hours after targeting a site near the presidential palace in Damascus.
The strikes came amid Israeli warnings to Syria’s new rulers not to harm the country's Druze minority, following sectarian clashes. The military said the raids targeted a military facility, anti-aircraft artillery, and ground-to-air missile infrastructure.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that Israel is preparing a list of additional military and government targets for future strikes inside Syria.
The announcement from the Israeli military came about two hours after Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported that Israeli airstrikes had targeted areas near Damascus, as well as locations in Latakia, Hama, and Daraa in the south.
In addition to the airstrikes, the Israeli military confirmed that five Syrian Druze were evacuated to Ziv Hospital in Safed. The army also stated that “Israeli forces are deployed in the southern Syrian region, prepared to prevent hostile forces from entering the area and Druze villages.”
This development marked a significant escalation in Israel's involvement in Syria.
A military analyst writing for Maariv noted that the Israeli military has expanded its intervention in the conflict between Syrian government forces and the Druze, confirming that helicopters transported aid to the Druze forces and evacuated the wounded to Israel.
They mentioned that the Israeli side has refrained from providing further details about the operation.
According to the analyst, there are several reasons for Israel’s intervention in Syria, one of which is the belief that the Syrian Druze could help stabilize the northern Golan Heights.
According to Israeli strategy, the area between the border and 80 kilometers deep inside Syrian territory should remain demilitarized, which is why Israel has a vested interest in supporting the Druze living in this buffer zone.