Egypt adn Kenya Strengthen Ties, Discuss Regional Stability at COMESA Summit
Nairobi, Kenya – Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Kenyan president William Ruto met Thursday on the sidelines of the 24th Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern africa (COMESA) in Nairobi, reaffirming a commitment to strengthened bilateral cooperation and regional stability.
Madbouly,representing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the summit,extended Sisi’s greetings to President Ruto and lauded Kenya’s leadership in hosting the event. He also congratulated Ruto on his recent assumption of the COMESA chairmanship, pledging Egypt’s full support for Kenya’s leadership of the vital regional economic bloc.
“Egypt stands ready to cooperate fully with Kenya to ensure the success of its chairmanship,” Madbouly stated, emphasizing the importance of COMESA as a key driver of economic growth in Africa.
The meeting highlighted the growing momentum in Egypt-Kenya relations, spurred by President Ruto’s state visit to egypt earlier this year. President Sisi reportedly expressed his eagerness to reciprocate with a visit to Kenya in the near future. Both leaders underscored the importance of swiftly reconvening the joint committee between the two nations and fostering increased collaboration between their private sectors, with a particular focus on the pharmaceutical industry.
Madbouly also emphasized Egypt’s strong ties with nations throughout the Nile Basin, pointing to Egypt’s contribution to the construction of the Julius Nyerere Dam in Tanzania as evidence of its commitment to regional development.
Discussions extended to pressing regional issues, including the ongoing situation in Gaza. President Ruto voiced his support for Egypt’s dedicated efforts – in partnership with international actors – to broker the recent ceasefire agreement, a testament to Egypt’s pivotal role in de-escalating conflict in the region.
“We appreciate President sisi’s work to achieve a ceasefire and bring stability to the region,” President Ruto stated, adding that he looks forward to welcoming President Sisi to Kenya as one of the continent’s “great leaders.”
Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hassan El Khatib, and Ambassador to Kenya, Hatem Youssry, also attended the productive bilateral meeting.
Keywords: Egypt, Kenya, William Ruto, Mostafa Madbouly, COMESA, Africa, Bilateral Relations, Regional Cooperation, Gaza, Ceasefire, Nile basin, Investment, Pharmaceutical Industry.
