Cairo, Dakar discuss strategic partnership, development, stability across Africa

Egypt and Senegal held high-level talks on Tuesday aiming to strengthen bilateral ties, enhance political coordination, and support development and security across Africa, amid preparations for the upcoming African Union summit early next week.
Receiving the Senegalese Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs, and Senegalese Abroad Sheikh Niang, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati lauded the growing momentum in bilateral relations and the mutual commitment to developing and expanding them, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tamim Khallaf said.
Egypt views Senegal as a strategic partner in West Africa, he added, congratulating Minister Niang on Senegal’s leadership of the ECOWAS Commission as well as the joint presidency with the UAE of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Abdel-Aati also reiterated Egypt’s support for Senegal’s five-year plan and “Vision 2050.” He highlighted Cairo’s readiness to provide expertise in building new cities, infrastructure, irrigation networks, land reclamation, agricultural and livestock production, fisheries, and the cultivation of strategic crops.
Abdel-Aati also highlighted the ongoing efforts to establish French-language university programmes to attract Senegalese students, taking advantage of the comparative strengths of Egyptian educational services.
He noted the upcoming inauguration of Senghor University in Alexandria, which represents a qualitative addition to educational and academic co-operation with French-speaking African countries.
He also stressed the role of Al-Azhar in teaching the Arabic language, promoting moderate Islamic teachings, and countering extremist ideologies.
On regional and international developments, Minister Abdel-Aati reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for efforts to combat terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach that combines security and development measures to tackle this threat.
He commended Senegal’s important role in mediating among the three Sahel countries and within ECOWAS.
The discussions also covered developments in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. The two sides emphasised the importance of continuing support for national institutions and maintaining the unity, sovereignty, and independence of African states as a means to uphold regional and international peace and security.
At the conclusion of the talks, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Institute of Diplomatic Studies and Senegal’s École Nationale d’Administration to exchange expertise and co-operate in organising training activities in areas of mutual interest.