Sisi holds extensive talks with African leaders, senior officials

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held a series of meetings on Tuesday on the sidelines of the inauguration of the annual meetings of the African Development Bank being held in Sharm El-Sheikh.

President Sisi met with President of the Comoros and the current Chairman of the African Union Othman Ghazali, during which he discussed ways to strengthen relations between the two countries at various levels.

The President reiterated Egypt’s readiness to transfer its experience in the presidency of the African Union to its sister Comoros. He also stressed the importance of activating frameworks for joint cooperation in various fields.

For his part, the President of the Comoros expressed his country’s great appreciation for Egypt’s leadership and people and its leading role in the African continent.

The two presidents also exchanged views on a number of African issues and agreed to continue consultations on ways to find solutions to African crises.

The President also met with Burundian Prime Ministe Gervais Ndirakobuca. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the distinguished level of bilateral relations between the two countries, whether at the level of coordination and political consultation, or in terms of economic cooperation.

The President underscored Egypt’s continued support to Burundi in its development needs and its efforts to build the capabilities of Burundian cadres. The meeting also discussed the latest regional developments of mutual interest, especially with regard to the Great Lakes region, East Africa and the Nile Basin.

President Sisi also met with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and stressed the importance Egypt attaches to strengthening relations with Zimbabwe in various fields, especially trade exchange and investment, whether at the bilateral level or within the framework of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

The President also held a meeting with Secretary General of COMESA ChilesheMpunduKapwepwe during which he followed up on the implementation of the priorities of the current Egyptian presidency of the COMESA.

The President also met Executive Director of the African Union Agency for Development (NEPAD) Nardos Bekele Thomas.

The meeting reviewed the priorities of the current Egyptian presidency of NEPAD, which represents the development arm of the African Union,