Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with an association of Malian alumni of Egyptian universities in Bamako on Wednesday, in a meeting attended by his Mali counterpart that highlighted the role of education in strengthening bilateral ties, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement. During the meeting on Wednesday evening, Abdelatty praised the alumni for building "bridges for people-to-people communication" between the two countries. He said Egypt welcomes thousands of African students annually and is committed to providing academic and cultural support, viewing them as "partners in making the continent's future." The meeting, which took place during Abdelatty's official visit to the Malian capital, was also attended by Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, Minister for Malians Abroad and African Integration Moussa Ag Tahar, and Commissioner for Food Security Radwan Ag Mohamed. Diop expressed his deep appreciation for Egypt's role in supporting human capacity building in Mali and across Africa. He praised the historical ties between the two countries and said Egypt plays a leading role in supporting the continent's education sector by hosting thousands of African students and providing specialised scholarships and training programmes. His sentiments were echoed by Tahar, who praised the role of the Egyptian university graduates in Malian society, describing them as an "important bridge" between the two peoples. He added that the educational experience in Egypt was instrumental in preparing professionals who now play a pivotal role in various sectors in Mali. Members of the alumni association expressed their gratitude for the education and knowledge they received in Egypt, affirming that the experience shaped their scientific and professional careers and that they would work to support relations between the two countries. The meeting took place as part of Abdelatty's multi-nation tour of West Africa aimed at strengthening Egypt's ties with the region.
