Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi participated in the 8th Mid-Year Coordinating Meeting of the African Union and regional economic communities in New Alamein City. The meeting was attended by African leaders and heads of regional economic communities. The main topic of discussion was the progress made on the African Union's 2026 theme of ensuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems.
The meeting was officially opened with the playing of Egypt's national anthem and the African Union's official anthem. President Sisi, along with the Chairperson of the African Commission, and the President of Burundi, who is the current chair of the African Union, delivered opening remarks. The meeting aimed to enhance coordination between the African Union and regional economic communities.
In his keynote address, President Sisi emphasized the importance of coordination between African countries, the African Commission, and regional communities to achieve sustainable development. He stated that coordination is not an end in itself but a means to integrate efforts and turn common aspirations into specific projects that can be implemented.
President Sisi highlighted the example of New Alamein City, which was once a battleground during World War II and suffered from the effects of war and landmines. He noted that the city has been transformed into a model for development and investment, demonstrating that with determination, land can be turned from a battle-scarred area into a platform for growth and development.
The President emphasized that Africa has the potential to turn the effects of conflicts into opportunities for development and transform challenges into drivers of growth. He stressed that African countries must work together to build their own capacity for reconstruction and recovery from the effects of conflicts.
President Sisi also touched on the importance of managing shared resources, particularly water, in a sustainable and equitable manner. He commended the African Union's choice of theme for 2026 and looked forward to working with African countries to implement the first executive plan of the African Water Vision 2063.
The President concluded his address by emphasizing the need for African countries to work together to achieve economic integration and peace. He called for the full activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which came into effect in 2019, to create a single African market that can harness the continent's production capacity and increase intra-African trade.
Key points
- President Sisi emphasizes the importance of coordination between African countries to achieve sustainable development.
- The African Union's 2026 theme focuses on ensuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems.
- President Sisi calls for the full activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area to promote economic integration.
