Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati held a series of meetings with African counterparts on the sidelines of the Korea–Africa Ministerial Meeting in Seoul, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding economic co-operation, and coordinating positions on key regional and continental issues.
During talks with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Abdel-Aati reaffirmed the strength of Egyptian-Nigerian relations and stressed the importance of continued co-ordination on bilateral, regional, and multilateral matters.
He called for building on the outcomes of his visit to Abuja in July 2025, particularly the Egyptian-Nigerian Business Forum, to enhance co-operation mechanisms between the two countries.
The minister underlined the importance of convening the next round of ministerial political consultations as soon as possible to promote Egyptian and Nigerian investments in strategic sectors, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy, construction, and information technology.
He also highlighted prospects for establishing an Egyptian-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and invited Nigerian companies and private-sector representatives to participate in the upcoming Africa El Alamein Forum.
Abdel-Aati reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to share its counterterrorism expertise through expanded training programmes for Nigerian military and security personnel at Egyptian institutions. He stressed Egypt’s comprehensive approach to combating extremism, including intellectual and ideological efforts led by Al-Azhar and scholarship programmes offered to Nigerian students.
Addressing developments in the Sahel, the minister reiterated Egypt’s full support for regional efforts aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa and the Sahel region.
He also expressed Egypt’s readiness to continue facilitating dialogue between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), stressing the importance of such efforts in promoting regional security and stability.
Abdel-Aati also met Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
The Egyptian foreign minister congratulated Kenya on the successful organisation of the Africa–France Summit and expressed Egypt’s hope of building on the summit’s outcomes in a way that advances African priorities and interests.
He highlighted the importance of expanding Egyptian and Kenyan investments in infrastructure, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy, construction, and information technology, while increasing bilateral trade.
Abdel-Aati stressed the need to create greater opportunities for Egyptian companies to benefit from investment prospects in Kenya, drawing on their extensive experience in implementing major development projects and supporting economic growth.
The two sides also explored opportunities for co-operation in maritime transport, the blue economy, and the sustainable development of natural and mineral resources within exclusive economic zones.
On water security, Abdel-Aati underlined the importance of co-operation and integration among Nile Basin countries to achieve mutual benefit and shared interests. He stressed the need to preserve the spirit of consensus and partnership in efforts to restore inclusivity within the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), while rejecting unilateral measures.
In a separate meeting with Cameroonian Foreign Minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Abdel-Aati stressed the importance of advancing economic, trade, and investment ties, as well as strengthening co-operation in capacity-building and human resource development.
The two ministers also exchanged views on a number of regional and African issues of mutual interest, underlining the importance of maintaining close co-ordination and consultation within regional and international forums.
They stressed the need to strengthen joint efforts in support of development initiatives and to contribute to peace, security, and stability across the African continent.
