Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Bankole Adeoye, the African Union's (AU) commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, on the sidelines of the AU's 6th Coordination Summit in Accra, Ghana. The Sunday meeting focused on deepening cooperation between Egypt and the AU in addressing the continent's security challenges, said Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, Spokesperson and Director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to supporting the AU's peace and security efforts and its engagement with the AU Peace and Security Council. "The increasing security challenges facing the continent and the expansion of conflicts necessitate intensified consultation and coordination between the AU bodies and member states," Abdelatty said. He pointed out Egypt's keenness to support the AU and its various bodies, and its engagement, through its membership in the AU Peace and Security Council, to strengthen the peace structure and pillars of stability across the continent. Abdelatty explained in this context that the increasing security challenges facing the continent and the expansion of the scope of conflicts and the associated humanitarian suffering necessitate intensifying consultation and coordination mechanisms between the AU bodies and member states. Egypt will hold the presidency of the AU Peace and Security Council in October 2024 and plans to organize several events during its term, Abdelatty said. He also expressed Egypt's commitment to activating the AU Center for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development. The two officials discussed the ongoing crisis in Sudan, emphasizing the need for unity among Sudanese civilian political forces and preserving the country's national institutions. Abdelatty stressed the importance of involving Sudan in any efforts to resolve the crisis. Egypt also welcomed the AU Peace and Security Council's decision to extend the timeframe for the third phase of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and discussed plans for a new AU mission to succeed it. Minister Abdelatty also welcomed Egypt's approval of the Peace and Security Council's request to extend the timeframe for the third phase of the AMISOM mission. He also discussed the arrangements for deploying a new AU mission in Somalia after the departure of the current mission, noting the need to provide all forms of support to the Somali government to achieve security and stability. The meeting also covered the situation in the Great Lakes region, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Red Sea security and developments in the Horn of Africa. Adeoye praised Egypt's role in promoting security and stability in Africa and expressed his desire to continue cooperation with Egypt on AU priorities.
