Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reaffirmed the longstanding and historic ties between Egypt and Angola, dating back to the 1960s, and emphasized the strength of the partnership the two nations have built.
“We are proud of this constructive partnership, and we look forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations this coming November,” President Sisi said.
President Sisi made these remarks during his meeting with the Angolan President João Lourenço, current Chair of the African Union, at Cairo’s Ittihadiya Presidential Palace.
According to Presidential Spokesman Mohammad El-Shennawi, the two presidents held an in-camera meeting followed by extended talks involving delegations from both countries. The meeting discussed ways to enhance co-operation across a broad spectrum of areas, particularly economic, trade, and investment relations.
The two sides also explored mechanisms to support the work of the African Union, promote continental integration, and bolster efforts to maintain peace and security across Africa.
The spokesman added that several agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed during the visit, covering key sectors such as information and communications technology, housing, and infrastructure.
In a joint press conference following the talks, President Sisi described the meeting with President Lourenço as “fruitful and constructive”, highlighting a strong alignment of visions and a shared political will to elevate bilateral ties.
“We agreed on the need to intensify co-operation in various sectors, particularly political, economic, and investment fields, and to push our relations forward at a pace that reflects their historical depth,” Sisi said. He further affirmed Egypt’s readiness to extend all forms of support to Angola, especially in capacity-building across multiple sectors including policing, defence, health, media, tourism, agriculture, anti-corruption, renewable energy, diplomacy, and institutional development.
The two leaders also discussed joint opportunities in the strategic “Lobito Corridor” project – a promising development initiative for the African continent, with potential cooperation in the fields of mining, energy, and infrastructure. They also exchanged views on pressing peace and security issues across the African continent.
The two presidents voiced support for regional and international efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the crisis, underscoring the central role of the AU in mediation and conflict resolution. They also firmly rejected any attempts to form a parallel government in Sudan.
They also underscored the need to manage shared water resources in accordance with international law, through inclusive frameworks that ensure mutual benefits and respect the principle of “no harm”. Both presidents stressed the importance of avoiding unilateral actions that could trigger conflict among riparian states.
Both leaders agreed on the need for fair African representation in global institutions – particularly in the reform and expansion of the UN Security Council – and reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating institutional reforms within the AU.
They also underscored the importance of continued coordination between Cairo and Luanda on regional and international platforms.
Source: The Egyptian Gazette
