Egypt and Benin signed two cooperation agreements on Tuesday following high-level talks in Cairo aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional security and development challenges. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atty hosted his Beninese counterpart Shegun Adjadi Bakari for political consultations under a bilateral mechanism in place since 2000. The ministers signed memoranda of understanding covering diplomatic training and mutual visa exemption for holders of official passports. According to a statement from Egypt's Foreign Ministry, Minister Abdel-Atty said the talks focused on expanding cooperation in infrastructure, energy, tourism, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. He also emphasised Egyptian private sector interest in the Beninese market, highlighting Cairo's experience in African infrastructure and construction projects. Minister Abdel-Atty said Egypt remains committed to enhancing security and stability across West Africa and the Sahel, voicing support for Benin's efforts to combat terrorism. "Instability in the Sahel impacts the wider region, including Sudan, Libya, and Gulf of Guinea states," he added. The ministers also discussed Egypt's regional diplomatic efforts, including its mediation to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and its positions on the crises in Sudan and the Horn of Africa. Minister Abdel-Atty reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to peacekeeping in Somalia through the African Union. Bakari welcomed Egypt's training programmes for Beninese diplomats and counterterrorism cooperation through Al-Azhar's religious missions and the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, which has hosted 366 Beninese trainees to date. The agreements aim to ease official travel and foster deeper political and economic engagement between the two countries. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
