Sisi: Interconnected and Severe Challenges Require Unprecedented African Solidarity and Continental Strength in Unity

Cairo – Khadija Hamouda: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s full commitment to working and cooperating jointly with African countries to achieve a safe, stable, and prosperous Africa, noting that continental integration has become a strategic choice and an urgent necessity to overcome current challenges.

This came during President el-Sisi’s speech at the closing session of the eighth African Union coordination meeting, held in the new city of Alamein.

He said, “Our discussions in Alamein highlighted the scale of achievements implemented and our steps toward realizing continental integration and unity, as well as developing coordination frameworks between the African Union, regional economic communities, and regional mechanisms. The discussions also reflected the gravity of current challenges, which require concerted efforts and continued joint work and cooperation, as continental integration has become a strategic choice and an urgent necessity to overcome these obstacles, based on our firm belief in a shared destiny and purpose.”

He added, “The final declaration issued by our meeting provides us with a clear roadmap to advance regional and continental integration efforts,” emphasizing the importance of accelerating the pace of economic and trade integration through the full activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, enhancing efforts to build supply chains and logistical corridors, and developing and linking transport and energy networks. He stressed the need to provide sustainable and innovative financing for development programs and projects, in cooperation with continental financial institutions.

President el-Sisi underscored the importance of linking sustainable development, economic growth, peace, and security on the continent, a goal that requires strengthening conflict prevention efforts, developing early warning mechanisms, and consolidating reconstruction and development initiatives while maximizing and activating the role of the African Union Center for Reconstruction and Development in Cairo, including increasing its allocated budget to enable it to perform its work more effectively.

Speaking at a luncheon honoring the heads of state and African delegations participating in the eighth coordination meeting, el-Sisi said, “We meet at a moment marked by interconnected and severe challenges facing the entire world, and our continent in particular, which calls for unprecedented African solidarity among states and organizations, recognizing that the continent’s strength lies in its unity and the integration of its economies.”

He called for greater efforts to transfer technology and localize industry in African markets, adding, “I invite you to contribute to major projects on the continent, including infrastructure projects, development and renewable energy corridors, and other strategic projects, which offer promising investment opportunities.”