How Egypt plans to 'return to Africa'
Egypt is hoping to re-establish ties with other African countries and remain active in the Horn of Africa, as it is a strategic border area.
CAIRO — Representatives from Egypt, other African nations and Japan met in Nairobi, Kenya, Aug. 27 for the launch of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Summit. According to TICAD’s official website, the conference aims to highlight the importance and urgency of development issues in the African continent, as well as to “promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners.”
At the conference, Egypt, represented by a delegation headed by former Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb, signed a number of deals with Japan and other African nations aimed at promoting African development.
Egypt’s participation in the conference comes within the context of Cairo’s recent efforts to strengthen ties with continental partners.
Headed by Hatem Bashat, the African Affairs Committee of the Egyptian parliament is looking for ways to coordinate between Egypt and Nile Basin countries and to use Egypt’s soft power to regain its pivotal African role after decades of estrangement.
