Shoukry asserts Egypt’s support for accelerating efforts to solve crisis in Niger

CAIRO/NEW YORK – Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry asserted Egypt’s support for accelerating efforts to solve the crisis in Niger, underlining the importance of pushing for a peaceful settlement in a way that guarantees preserving the country’s stability and sovereignty, fulfilling its people’s aspirations and avoiding further escalations that could threaten the security and stability of the region.

This came during a meeting he had with his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop on the sidelines of the proceedings of the high-level segment of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said the Malian top diplomat noted that holding a referendum on the constitutional amendments in his country in June 2023 was a highly important step for the restoration of a constitutional system that is capable of attaining the hopes of the Malian people on the basis of new constitutional provisions and a road map for the transitional period that has been approved by the parties concerned.

The meeting between the two sides took up the general political and security conditions in Western Africa and the escalating acts of violence and expanding activities by terrorist groups in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin, according to the spokesman.

Shoukry was keen on getting acquainted with Mali’s views as far as the developments in Niger are concerned, he said according to MENA.

The minister asserted Egypt’s fixed stance on condemning all acts of violence and terrorism and highlighted its pioneering role in fighting terrorism and extremism, the spokesman added.

Also, he expressed Egypt’s backing for the Malian state’s efforts to combat terrorism, restore security and public order and bring all parts of the country under its control through the expansion of development support paths especially in the fields of security, combating terrorism, and capacity building with the help of the courses provided by the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development, the programs of the Cairo International Center for Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), and cooperation with the Sahel and Sahara Counter-terrorism Center, as well as the role of Al Azhar in correcting misconceptions spread by extremist groups.

For his part, the Malian foreign minister praised Egypt’s contribution to peacekeeping operations, the support it provides to his country in all areas of interest, and the training courses provided by the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development to transfer Egyptian expertise and build financial capabilities in various fields.

Abu Zeid pointed out that the two foreign ministers agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of exchanging support for international nominations, especially nominations that are of importance to both sides, in addition to continuing consultation during the next phase to confront various challenges facing the African continent.