The Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA) celebrates with pride the Day of Africa, which falls on May 25 of each year, as the peoples and countries of the African continent celebrate this historic day, which coincides with the anniversary of the establishment of the Organization of African Unity sixty years ago. In 1963, the will and hopes of the peoples of the continent were embodied through close cooperation in the establishment of the Organization of African Unity in order to achieve independence, political liberation and the exploitation of natural and human resources in order to achieve economic development and to achieve integration and union among the peoples and States of the continent.
For its part, Egypt has played a leading role in supporting many African brothers in achieving independence, liberation from old and modern colonialism, and contributing to economic and social development processes. This role continued in light of the development of the African Union, as the past years witnessed a strong and growing momentum in Egyptian/African relations, whether at the bilateral or multilateral level, to include all fields, whether security through efforts to combat terrorism, organized crime, human trafficking and displaced persons, or political, by consolidating peace through coordination and consultation on regional and international issues, playing a positive and constructive role in settling regional conflicts, and contributing to peacekeeping, peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction and reconstruction.
On the economic level, Egypt has pushed forward sustainable development in the African Union Program 2063, which includes nearly 18 sectors, in addition to maximizing intra-regional trade by establishing the African Free Trade Area, and revitalizing it by working to inject regional and international investments in infrastructure and productive sectors. Similarly, Egypt has played – and continues to play – a leading role at the social level, in facing the challenges and repercussions of the triad (Corona pandemic, climate change, and the Ukrainian crisis) on the economies of those countries, whether in terms of energy, food security or water security. It has also contributed to strengthening health systems and equitable vaccine production, as well as building cadres and increasing training courses, and paying special attention to the empowerment of women and youth.
As the Council celebrates this great occasion and is confident of the strategic priority of Egypt’s African relations and the achievement of integration among the countries of the continent on the basis of common interests and mutual benefits, the Council expresses its sincere hopes for strengthening greater independence of African decision-making, in accordance with the interests and security of all peoples of the countries of the continent, and advancing steps of construction and peace and strengthening African ties in all fields, in order to achieve further progress and prosperity.