Ashraf AboArafe
El-Alamein — Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, met on Saturday with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr. Ronald Lamola, on the sidelines of the El-Alamein Africa Forum. The meeting focused on expanding bilateral cooperation and aligning perspectives on pressing regional and international issues.
Ambassador Nader Zaki, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Minister Abdelatty highlighted the deep-rooted ties between Egypt and South Africa. He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to advancing economic, trade, and investment relations in line with the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and President Cyril Ramaphosa to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
Minister Abdelatty praised the launch of the Egyptian–South African Business Council as a vital vehicle for linking the business communities of both nations and executing joint projects. He emphasized capitalizing on emerging opportunities across infrastructure, energy, transport, and manufacturing to boost mutual investment and accelerate continental economic integration.
The ministers conducted in-depth discussions on regional developments, notably the crises in Sudan, the Horn of Africa, Palestine, Libya, and the Sahel region. Both sides underlined the necessity of continuous coordination in regional and international forums to uphold peace, security, and development in Africa, support mutual nominations, and strengthen synergy within the BRICS framework to deliver on economic and developmental goals.
Following the meeting, the two ministers signed an agreement establishing the Joint High Committee between Egypt and South Africa to institutionalize cooperation and drive implementation across political, economic, trade, and investment domains. They also agreed to convene the inaugural session of the Business Council during Minister Abdelatty’s upcoming visit to South Africa.
Key Highlights & Strategic Context
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Institutionalizing Bilateral Relations: The establishment of the Joint High Committee and the Egyptian–South African Business Council transitions political goodwill into concrete economic, trade, and investment projects.
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Economic Synergy & Continental Integration: Discussions prioritized key sectors—infrastructure, energy, transport, and manufacturing—to stimulate intra-African trade and support long-term economic integration.
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Regional Security Alignment: Joint consultation on active conflicts (Sudan, Horn of Africa, Palestine, Libya, Sahel) reinforces both nations’ roles as pivotal African anchors for peace and stability.
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Multilateral Collaboration (BRICS & Global Forums): Sustained coordination within BRICS and international bodies aims to amplify Africa’s strategic influence and economic priorities on the global stage.
