PNN – In an effort to improve security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region, as well as improve food security in Africa, the Egyptian government has increased diplomatic contacts and consultations with African countries.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, citing “Xinhua”, Cairo hosted a meeting of a new tripartite committee on Saturday with the presence of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Somalia and Eritrea. Before this, the summit of these three countries was held on the 10th of October in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the three countries emphasized their common commitment to security cooperation in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa region. On Saturday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati also talked about “protecting common interests in the security of the Red Sea” in a telephone conversation with Djibouti’s Foreign Minister.
Xinhua quoted Amani Al-Tawil, an expert on African affairs at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Egypt, who wrote: The increase in threats against regional security is the motivation for Egypt’s interest in all African issues. Al-Tawil noted that developments in East Africa affect both Egypt’s water security and Egypt’s economic interests in the Red Sea shipping lanes.
Egypt’s diplomatic efforts go beyond the Horn of Africa region. In recent weeks, Egyptian officials have had contacts with senior officials from Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Kenya and Chad. Abdul Ati traveled to Chad in December and discussed with the country’s officials about anti-terrorist cooperation and trade relations.
These diplomatic actions by Cairo show Egypt’s focus on building African alliances at a time when regional instability threatens Egypt’s security and economic interests. The Suez Canal, which connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, has historically been a source of foreign exchange earnings for the Egyptian economy.
According to the announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Abdel Ati and Mahmoud Ali Youssef, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, in a phone conversation on Saturday, emphasized that it is necessary for the countries of the region Red Sea to coordinate their responses to regional threats. The foreign ministers of Egypt and Djibouti also exchanged views on supporting stability in Somalia. Insecurity in Somalia has threatened maritime security for years and is one of the major concerns in the region.
Al-Ahram Center expert Al Taweil said: Egypt is greatly influenced by the developments in East Africa, and therefore Cairo’s approach in increasing diplomatic activities in this region is logical and necessary.
In a bilateral meeting with “Ahmed Muallem Faqi”, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Abdul Ati also reviewed the ways of Egypt’s support for peace and stability in Somalia. Both sides emphasized the necessity of supporting the Somali National Army in the fight against terrorism.
At the same time, the relations between the two countries of Somalia and Ethiopia are improving, which can help improve security in this region. Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, the President of the Republic of Somalia, met and talked with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abi Ahmed, on Saturday, which is a new sign of the improvement of relations between the two neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa after a year of tension between them.
Cooperation in agriculture and food security in Africa
These talks were held on Saturday on the sidelines of the African Union’s extraordinary summit on agricultural development in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. In a meeting with his Malagasy counterpart, the Egyptian Minister of Agriculture, Hejrison Francois, emphasized Cairo’s determination to support African countries. Farooq, in a meeting with “Ahmed Al Maks”, director of agricultural research of the African Union, also emphasized the strengthening of cooperation in the agricultural sector through Egyptian agricultural research centers.
In a meeting with his counterpart from South Sudan, the Egyptian Minister of Agriculture announced Cairo’s readiness to provide technical support to South Sudanese farmers. The implementation of joint agricultural projects and the transfer of Egyptian experience and technical knowledge in the field of water management and integrated agricultural communities were among the topics discussed.