By Seif Gracien Hasingizwimana/Egypt, Cairo,
Former Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Hegazy has called for stronger cooperation among African countries, urging the continent to make better use of its resources, skills, and capabilities to promote development and reduce dependence on countries outside Africa. Hegazy made the remarks during his participation in the African Journalists’ Course in Egypt, organized by the African Journalists’ Union. He emphasized that African countries possess significant resources and opportunities that could be used to strengthen cooperation and address the needs of their populations.
Hegazy said African countries should increase cooperation in trade, production, and investment while making greater use of products, expertise, and capabilities available within the continent. He cited opportunities for African countries to trade more among themselves in products such as timber, tea, rice, and meat. He also highlighted the potential for stronger cooperation in the production and distribution of medicines for chronic diseases, which he said are often sold at high prices. According to Hegazy, African countries remain insufficiently connected despite having resources and capabilities that could help meet the needs of their populations. He called for a more integrated system of production, trade, and investment across the continent. He also stressed the role of African businesses and business leaders in creating partnerships based on mutual benefit and encouraging greater economic cooperation among African countries.
Hegazy urged African journalists to view the continent from a broader perspective and embrace what he described as a “continental dream.” He emphasized that journalists can reach a much wider audience than traditional diplomatic channels. “We diplomats write to one another, but you write to the whole world and speak to everyone,” Hegazy told the journalists. He said the media is a fundamental element in the success of political initiatives and summits, noting that major summits held in Egypt and elsewhere would struggle to effectively communicate their messages to the public without media presence and journalistic coverage.
Egypt’s engagement with Africa extends beyond diplomacy and economic cooperation to education, professional training, humanitarian action, and development partnerships.
Ambassador Nermine El-Zawahry, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Secretary-General of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), said Africa remains the agency’s top priority. The EAPD promotes development cooperation through South-South and triangular cooperation and works across different sectors with dozens of African Union member states.
El-Zawahry’s professional background includes diplomatic service in the United Kingdom and Germany. She holds degrees in Economics and Law, an academic combination that provides a broad perspective on development and international cooperation.
El-Zawahry’s previous tenure as Egypt’s Ambassador to Rwanda was marked by progress in bilateral relations between the two countries. Among the initiatives associated with her tenure was her key role in the establishment of the Rwanda-Egypt Heart Centre in Kigali. In her current position as Secretary-General of the EAPD, she is also committed to advancing development cooperation while contributing to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063. According to El-Zawahry, Egypt is ready to work hand in hand with African countries and take on the challenge of building a developed Africa.
Education and professional training are among the key areas of Egypt’s cooperation with African countries. Egypt offers Al-Azhar scholarships to African students and provides training in Cairo for African journalists, diplomats, and sports officials. Through these opportunities, Egypt supports professional skills development among Africans while strengthening cooperation and relationships between Egypt and other countries on the continent.
Egypt is a founding member of the African Union and is active in its Peace and Security Council. Cairo also hosts the headquarters of several African institutions, including Afreximbank and the African Medicines Agency. Since 2014, Egypt has based its foreign policy on the principle of “Africa First.” As part of its engagement, Egypt has undertaken humanitarian actions in several African countries, particularly in Eastern Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Egypt is also working to promote intra-African trade and African culture through various initiatives, including its dialect channels, cultural tourism, and other activities. Its geographical position gives Egypt an important role as a commercial gateway connecting Africa with other parts of the world.
