Egypt is now determined to work with its African partners to develop the continent, Magda El-Ghitany reports from Sharm El-Sheikh By hosting the 13th summit of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) and the third Peer Review Mechanism of the New African Partnership for Development (NEPAD), Egypt has made its willingness to fully participate in African development through closer cooperation with African countries abundantly clear. This was demonstrated in the opening statement made by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. In his speech, Mubarak affirmed that "Egypt is ready to put its experience and expertise at the disposal of its African brethren." NEPAD was first launched in 2001 at the now defunct Organisation of African Unity's 37th summit, which took place in Lusaka, Zambia. As one of the initiative's five founders -- alongside Algeria, South Africa, Senegal, and Nigeria -- Egypt was keen to emphasise its "genuine intention to fully support NEPAD and to work on its expansion and development," Mubarak said after last November's NEPAD summit, held in Algiers. This year, Egyptian officials have expressed their readiness to cooperate more closely with African countries in key NEPAD files such as agriculture and trade. Speaking to Al-Ahram Weekly, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit stated that NEPAD "paved the way for the expansion of inter-African cooperation". Although enormous resources are required to develop the continent, closer cooperation between African countries indicates that African officials are becoming more confident and that "the African continent is moving in the right direction". However, Egypt was unable to hide its concern over the lack of essential financial support of NEPAD's ambitious plans. Speaking to the Egyptian TV on the eve of the summit, Abul-Gheit stated that a major problem threatening to prevent NEPAD from achieving its goals in the development process of the African continent is the fact that some industrial nations have not fully provided the essential aide promised. Developmental projects in "the [African] continent require $25 million in aid from industrial nations," financial backing which is yet to be delivered. Still, such concerns did not cloud Egypt's warm reception of the 15 African leaders who came to Sharm El-Sheikh. "Egypt's welfare is deeply intertwined with Africa's," Ibrahim Ali Hassan, Egypt's Foreign Minister's adviser for African Affairs told the Weekly. Egypt has always been keen to boost the continent's economic, political, and social conditions, and "this will also contribute to Egypt's own stability," Ibrahim added. As far as the NEPAD is concerned, mutual exchange between Egypt and African countries will benefit the continent and help maintain political stability. Egypt has a "long political experience that no other state in the continent has." This background, Hassan added, has helped resolve many of the conflicts experienced by several African states. For example, Egypt has been playing a pivotal role in resolving conflicts in Darfur, Cote d'Ivoire and Somalia. In addition, Egypt is able to provide NEPAD states with a wide range of expertise and provide technical assistance in a number of fields including agriculture, communication, infrastructure, construction, and is also able to help solve many of the continent's developmental problems. "Cementing ties with its African partners and helping them to better their conditions, mainly through African means" remains Egypt's main goal as a major part of the NEPAD. Also, Hassan noted, African states could constitute a large market for Egyptian exports. While some critics may argue that Egypt's Africa policy has declined over the years especially when compared to the 1960s, Ahmed Ibrahim, Africa expert at Al-Ahram Centre of Political and Strategic Studies told the Weekly that any comparison between the 1960s and present conditions is "non applicable". During the 1960s, Egypt focussed on supporting the continent's liberation movements to help free African states from colonial rule. However, starting from 1970s, several international changes took place that led Egypt to prioritise other regional concerns, mainly the Middle East. For example, "the escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict and inter Arab conflicts" dominated the country's agenda and "made it appear as if Egypt had partially lost interest in the African continent", Ibrahim explained. The rise of some African powers has led some to question Egypt's leading role in developing the continent. However, according to Ibrahim, Africa's geographical classification overrules such an assumed competition. "The African continent is made up of several sub regions: North African, West African, Southern African, and Nile Basin sub-regions. Egypt plays "a pivotal role in both the Northern and Nile Basin areas". Other states, such as South Africa and Nigeria may have similar roles in the Southern and Western sub-regions respectively. According to Ibrahim, Egyptians need to participate more fully in African affairs. Egypt's keenness to enhance Africa's conditions had demonstrated its "deep African roots". In a show of solidarity with Africa, Egyptian parliamentarians have established a NEPAD Egyptian-Parliamentary Commission to support NEPAD and which aims to encourage the private sector to forge closer economic ties with Africa.
