Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has embarked on an African diplomatic tour, visiting three countries: Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique. Observers believe that the main focus of the tour is to address several prominent issues, including the ongoing crises in the continent, particularly the situation in Sudan, as well as enhancing economic cooperation and trade exchange.
President el-Sisi arrived in Luanda, the capital of Angola, on Tuesday evening, becoming the first Egyptian president to visit the country. The visit aims to explore avenues of cooperation with Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique, both in terms of trade exchange and joint projects. Egypt is already implementing several projects in Luanda and seeks to expand its involvement.
The tour will also address African issues, such as the economic crisis that has severely affected African countries over the past two years. Cooperation between these countries will be a key topic of discussion, with a particular focus on food security and investment promotion within this framework.
Political crises in the continent will undoubtedly feature prominently in the discussions between President el-Sisi and the heads of state. The ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Somalia, Libya, and the Central African Republic will be on the agenda.
Certainly, the Sudan conflict will hold a significant place in the discussions between President el-Sisi and the heads of state, given Sudan’s border with seven countries. Cairo seeks to participate in finding a swift resolution to halt the fighting between the conflicting parties in collaboration with the African Union.
The tour will also include explaining and clarifying the Egyptian vision regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis and its repercussions on the lives of Egyptians. The necessity of reaching a legally binding agreement to safeguard the rights of all parties will be emphasized.
The fight against terrorism will also be a topic of discussion during the tour, considering the expansion and activities of terrorist groups in Africa in various regions.
Egypt will hand over the rotating presidency of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) summit to Zambia, highlighting the importance of increasing the volume of trade among African countries. This presents an opportunity for Egypt to enhance its exports to African countries, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, which has been a focus of Egypt’s efforts in recent years.