Written by: Badr Ahmed

Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad, held a series of telephone calls with a number of African officials, within the framework of ongoing consultation and coordination regarding the priorities of joint African action and the preparations underway for Egypt to host a number of important African Union events during this year.

New proposed dates for the African summit

The contacts included Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and Edward Bizimana, Foreign Minister of Burundi, as the country chairing the African Union, along with Tete Antonio, Foreign Minister of Angola, Mahmoud Thabet, Foreign Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Therese Wagner, Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to a statement by Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the contacts addressed the new proposed dates and preparations for holding the eighth African Union Coordination Summit in the middle of the year, in addition to the work of the forty-ninth session of the Executive Council of the African Union, as well as the accompanying events that Egypt is scheduled to host during this year.

The discussions emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination between African countries and the African Union Commission, to ensure the success of future meetings and to achieve results that support the continent’s priorities, especially with regard to advancing economic integration efforts and strengthening regional cooperation among member states.

These moves come within the framework of Egypt’s active role within the African Union, and Cairo’s keenness to support joint action paths and enhance continental integration, in a way that serves the aspirations of African peoples towards development and stability.

The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also added that the contacts addressed ways to enhance African coordination to establish the foundations of peace, security and stability on the continent, and to advance sustainable development efforts. Views were also exchanged on various regional and continental issues of common interest, in addition to the latest developments in the health situation in the African continent, and ways to enhance the collective response to health challenges. Minister Abdel-Aty affirmed Egypt’s constant readiness to share its capabilities, experiences and technical support in this field, based on Egypt’s supportive role for its brothers, and its keenness to enhance health security on the continent.