Egypt and South Africa strengthen bilateral cooperation in a diplomatic meeting in the New Administrative Capital

Written by Mohamed Ragab

The New Administrative Capital witnessed an important bilateral meeting between Ambassador Nsiki Mashimbe, South Africa’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Ambassador Mohamed Abu Bakr Saleh, the new Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs.

Ambassador Machimbe congratulated his Egyptian counterpart on assuming his new post, emphasizing that South Africa welcomes the establishment of this strategic position, which reflects Cairo's interest in strengthening its presence on the African continent. He explained that this step represents a qualitative addition to Egyptian foreign policy and opens broader horizons for cooperation with African countries in various fields.

Political and economic relations

The two sides reviewed the current state of bilateral relations between Egypt and South Africa, and stressed the importance of pushing political and economic cooperation to higher levels.

Ambassador Machimbaye noted that his country sees Egypt as a pivotal partner on the continent, especially in light of regional and international challenges that require close coordination between African countries.

The two sides also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the areas of investment and trade, in order to contribute to achieving sustainable development and promote economic integration between the north and south of the continent.

The need to exploit the opportunities available in the energy, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors was emphasized in a way that serves the interests of both peoples.

Preparing for upcoming African events

The meeting also addressed the ongoing preparations for the African Union’s semi-annual coordination meetings, as well as preparations for the El Alamein Africa: GO63 Forum, scheduled to be held in the new city of El Alamein on Egypt’s northern coast in June 2026.

Ambassador Abu Bakr Saleh stressed that Egypt attaches great importance to these events as key platforms for promoting joint African cooperation and exchanging views on the political, economic and security issues facing the continent.

Ambassador Machimbay stressed that South Africa’s participation in these events will contribute to supporting continental integration efforts and enhancing Africa’s voice in international forums.

Extensive diplomatic support

Ambassador Machimbay was accompanied during the meeting by Mohamed Abdul, Political Advisor, and Thabo Sanyini, First Secretary for Political Affairs at the South African Embassy in Cairo, reflecting the importance of the meeting and the diplomatic mission’s keenness to support the course of bilateral relations.

This meeting comes at a time when Egyptian-African cooperation is gaining momentum, as Cairo works to strengthen its presence on the continent through political, economic and diplomatic initiatives, while Pretoria affirms its commitment to expanding cooperation with Egypt as a pivotal country in North Africa.