Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hosted a string of African leaders in El Alamein on Sunday as the continent’s governments pushed for faster economic integration, stronger regional coordination and progress on water security.
Footage released by the Egyptian presidency shows Sisi receiving visiting presidents and officials on the sidelines of the African Union’s eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in the Mediterranean city.
Among those he met were South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Egypt’s presidency said the talks focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly trade, investment and other economic ties, alongside regional and continental issues.
The summit brought together African heads of state, the African Union Commission and leaders of the continent’s regional economic communities to assess progress on integration under Agenda 2063.
This year’s AU theme is “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems”, putting water security and access to sanitation at the centre of the discussions.
Leaders also reviewed efforts to improve coordination between the African Union and regional blocs, advance institutional reforms and speed up implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Sisi used the gathering to call for faster economic integration and stronger intra-African trade, arguing that African countries need to turn existing agreements into more tangible development and investment.
The meeting formed part of a wider three-day programme in New El Alamein that also included an Africa business forum and a summit marking 25 years since the launch of NEPAD, now the African Union Development Agency.
Source: Viory
