El-Sisi contacts Traoré as Egypt pushes ties with West Africa
As part of Egypt’s push to extend its footprint in Africa, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has delivered a letter from the Egyptian president to Burkina Faso’s transitional leader.
The letter, delivered in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou on July 22, comes as part of Abdelatty’s multi-country tour of West Africa, according to Ahram Online on July 23rd.
It emphasized Cairo’s commitment towards strengthening ties in the region and encouraging security measures amid mounting threats from several armed groups in the Sahel.
Burkina Faso not only has strengthened ties with Egypt but has also deepened its relationship with Russia. This was marked by the latter’s “priceless gift” of 25,000 tonnes of free wheat to Burkina Faso in January.
The visit to West Africa is proof of Cairo’s willingness to cooperate with West Africa. Egyptian FM Abdelatty, who is currently on a multi-country tour in West Africa, is indicating Egypt’s eagerness to strengthen ties and investments in West Africa, particularly in construction, energy, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, where he was accompanied by 30 Egyptian business leaders who operate major Egyptian firms.
Egypt is also accompanied by several diplomatic backings where Abdelatty expressed his appreciation for Burkina Faso’s support of their candidate for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Director-General, Khaled El-Enany.
Burkina Faso’s Traoré complimented Egypt’s support for African states and promised to facilitate Egyptian business activity in Burkina Faso whilst affirming his support for El-Anany’s candidacy.
During the discussions, Egyptian FM Abdelaty showcased Cairo’s “comprehensive” counter terrorism strategy, which he states includes development and religious outreach alongside military measures.
Abdelaty further offered support towards Burkina’s education, citing educational efforts and scholarship programmes for the Burkinabe students. Burkina Faso’s leader, Traoré, relays his appreciation and greetings to Egyptian President El-Sisi, further praising Egypt’s historic role in supporting African Nations.
Furthermore, Burkina Faso makes patriotic training mandatory for Burkinabe students, where it highlights in educating the students to theoretical and physical training in civic values, national unity, and self-defense.
Burkina Faso marks the second stop for Egyptian FM Abdelatty’s five-nation tour in West Africa, where his next stops are Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Senegal. This tour is accompanied by Egypt’s active engagement in the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) where it came amid regional shifts and security and diplomacy as Western alliances depart fromthe Sahel.
During the AU meeting, Abdelatty held talks with several African leaders and AU officials, expressing Cairo’s willingness to deepen political ties, enhance trade, and promote investments in several industries, particularly in energy, construction, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Counterterrorism was the main agenda in his meeting with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) where commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah in Abuja, where he and Abdelatty called upon a practical framework to strengthen ties with ECOWAs against extremism.
Ahram Online, Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
