Written by: Badr Ahmed

Amr Moussa, the former Egyptian Foreign Minister, is one of the most prominent Egyptian and Arab diplomats who played a pivotal role in supporting the Egyptian presence within the African continent, both during his tenure as Egyptian Foreign Minister and through his subsequent regional and international roles.

Moussa, who served as Egypt’s foreign minister between 1991 and 2001, was distinguished by a diplomatic vision that relied on strengthening relations with African countries as a strategic extension of Egyptian national security.

Amr Moussa's journey in promoting African cooperation

During his tenure as Foreign Minister, Amr Moussa worked to revitalize Egypt’s role in Africa by expanding areas of political, economic and cultural cooperation with the countries of the continent.

He also supported Egypt’s participation in several African initiatives related to development and conflict resolution.

He was keen to intensify visits and bilateral meetings with African leaders, at a time when the continent was undergoing major political and economic transformations after the end of the Cold War.

“Moussa” also played an important role in supporting Egyptian relations with the Nile Basin countries, recognizing the importance of this region in the Egyptian water security file.

He contributed to strengthening the Egyptian diplomatic presence within African institutions, most notably the Organization of African Unity, which later became the African Union.

Following his move to the position of Secretary-General of the League of Arab States in 2001, Amr Moussa continued his interest in African issues, especially in files related to regional security, armed conflicts and development, where he sought to enhance Arab-African coordination and support cooperation initiatives between the two sides in the fields of economy, investment and infrastructure.

Moussa is seen as one of the diplomatic figures who believed in the importance of Egypt’s African depth, and the need to build relations based on partnership and common interests, not just historical ties.

His name is also associated with defending the causes of liberation and development in the continent, and supporting African integration efforts in the face of political and economic challenges.

Amr Moussa remains present in the intellectual and political scene related to Africa, through his participation in conferences and events that discuss the future of Egyptian-African relations, and the challenges facing the continent in the areas of development, security and regional cooperation.