By Joe Udo
CAIRO (CONVERSEER) – Egypt has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Confederation of Sahel States (ESA) in their fight against terrorism and efforts to consolidate sovereignty.
During a diplomatic mission across the Sahel, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty delivered President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s message to leaders in Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. At each stop, he highlighted Egypt’s readiness to assist with security, stability and development.
In Niger, Abdelaty attended the first Egypt-Niger Economic Forum. The event brought together business leaders to explore partnerships in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and infrastructure. It ended with the signing of a memorandum of understanding establishing regular political dialogue.
In Mali, Abdelaty led a high-level economic delegation to meet transitional leader General Assimi Goïta. The discussions focused on cooperation in mining, energy and agriculture.
A brief visit to Chad featured talks on visa exemptions and regional security cooperation. In Burkina Faso, Abdelaty praised the country’s commitment to African unity and regional stability.
The diplomatic tour also promoted South-South cooperation and the candidacy of former Egyptian Minister of Tourism, Khaled El-Enany, for Director-General of UNESCO.
The visits came shortly after Mali’s Foreign Minister visited Cairo, highlighting growing political and economic ties between Egypt and the Sahelian bloc.
