logo
Mohamed Idris Named African Union Permanent Observer to the UN

Mohamed Idris Named African Union Permanent Observer to the UN

CairoScenea day ago

Idris's previous roles include serving as Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Permanent Representative to the African Union.
Jun 25, 2025
Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Idris has been appointed as the African Union's (AU) permanent observer to the United Nations and will also serve as head of the AU's mission in New York. The appointment was received as a vote of confidence in Egyptian diplomatic capabilities within both regional and international institutions.
Idris brings extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, particularly in matters of peace, security, and development across the African continent. His previous roles include serving as Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Permanent Representative to the African Union. He is currently a member of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism, which is tasked with evaluating the UN's peacebuilding architecture.
The announcement comes at a time when Egypt continues to play a central role in African affairs. The country currently holds a seat on the AU Peace and Security Council and remains active in promoting peacekeeping and post-conflict recovery efforts. Egyptian leadership in African development was further underscored by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's stewardship of the AU's Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development file and his ongoing chairmanship of the AUDA-NEPAD Steering Committee.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Congratulations to Egypt
Congratulations to Egypt

See - Sada Elbalad

timean hour ago

  • See - Sada Elbalad

Congratulations to Egypt

Elham Aboul Fateh A major victory for the Egyptian parliament was achieved this week. Egypt assumed the presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PAUfM) . Egypt was elected unanimously by the member states, who voted for MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein, Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament, to assume the presidency of the Mediterranean Parliament. This victory is the result of Egypt's foreign policy and the world's growing confidence in the wisdom of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who was able to restore Egypt's regional and international position with steady steps and a clear vision. MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein emphasized this in his speech after assuming the presidency, where he spoke about President Sisi's wisdom, leadership, and wise leadership that has restored Egypt's leadership in its region and the world, and about the major role played by the Egyptian Parliament in its current session, headed by Counselor Dr. Hanafi El-Gebali, and the achievements made during the recent period. He presented a comprehensive roadmap for cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean, based on the principle of equality and equivalence, far from conditional aid or unbalanced relations, with an ambitious vision that takes relations from words to implementation, from crises to practical solutions, in the spirit of true cooperation. I was there and I felt proud as an Egyptian, as my heart was filled with pride for my country since it gained the world's respect and appreciation. I saw looks of respect directed at Egypt, not only for its historical weight, but also for its role and its plans for the future. Egypt's selection to assume the presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PAUfM), with the unanimous support of 38 countries, confirms that it remains the cornerstone of stability in the region and the natural bridge linking the North to the South, and Europe to the Arab world and Africa. MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein, the new President of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliament, is a highly experienced parliamentarian with a long history of international engagement. He possesses a capacity for influence, dialogue, and joint construction. This is what made his selection widely welcomed and appreciated. The selection of Egypt is a victory for its policies, institutions, political leaders, and people. Congratulations to Egypt. God bless Egypt. read more Analysis- Turkey Has 0 Regional Allies... Why? Analysis: Russia, Turkey... Libya in Return For Syria? Analysis: Who Will Gain Trump's Peace Plan Fruits? Analysis: Will Turkey's Erdogan Resort to Snap Election? Analysis: What Are Turkey's Aspirations in Iraq? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Mercenaries In Libya... Who Should Be Blamed? Opinion & Analysis Analysis- How 'Libya Nightmare' Takes Erdogan to Algiers Opinion & Analysis Analysis: What Happens After Brexit? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Strategic Significance of Libya's Sirte, Jufra! News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean

As two African nations sign a peace deal, Trump wants credit. But some fear peace may still elude them
As two African nations sign a peace deal, Trump wants credit. But some fear peace may still elude them

Egypt Independent

time2 hours ago

  • Egypt Independent

As two African nations sign a peace deal, Trump wants credit. But some fear peace may still elude them

CNN — A peace agreement brokered by the White House to stem the bloodshed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a militia allegedly backed by Rwanda occupies vast swaths of land, was signed in Washington D.C. on Friday by officials of the two African nations. But many remain unconvinced that the accord – portrayed as a 'wonderful treaty' by United States President Donald Trump – can end the complex and long-running conflict, while the militia itself has yet to commit to laying down its weapons. Trump was upbeat about the prospects for peace when teams from Rwanda and the DRC initialed a draft agreement on June 18, while at the same time suggesting that he would not get credit for his role in ending this or other conflicts. On June 20, he wrote on Truth Social : 'This is a Great Day for Africa and, quite frankly, a Great Day for the World! I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for this.' He added: 'I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do, including Russia/Ukraine, and Israel/Iran, whatever those outcomes may be, but the people know, and that's all that matters to me!' Trump touts himself as a 'peacemaker' and has expanded his interest in global conflicts to the brutal war in the mineral-rich eastern DRC. His peace deal could also pave the way for America's economic interests in the region, as it eyes access to the DRC's critical minerals. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio presided over the signing of the peace agreement by DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner and her Rwandan counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe on Friday. 'This is an important moment after 30 years of war,' Rubio said before the three officials signed the agreement. 'President Trump is a president of peace. He really does want peace. He prioritizes it above all else.' Congolese families displaced by ongoing clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo line up as they wait for Rwandan police and immigration officials to allow them to return to the country, following the takeover of the Congolese city of Bukavu by the M23 movement in February. Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images Displaced persons, believed to be Rwandan nationals, stand in line for a check after being dropped off at the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, in Goma on May 19, 2025. Jospin Mwisha/AFP/Getty Images More than 7,000 people have been killed, and some one million others displaced since January, when the M23 militia waged a fresh offensive against the Congolese army, seizing control of the two largest cities in the country's east. There has been increasing reports of summary executions – even of children – in occupied areas, where aid groups say they are also witnessing an epidemic of rape and sexual violence. A complex war The crisis in the eastern DRC, which shares a border with Rwanda and harbors large deposits of minerals critical to the production of electronics, is a fusion of complex issues. Daniel Kubelwa, a Congolese activist and researcher told CNN that the DRC's feud with Rwanda is 'deeply rooted in colonial-era border disputes, unresolved regional tensions, and the consequences of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.' In that genocide, hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu militias. Rwanda criticizes the DRC, which faces problems with militia violence, for integrating a proscribed Hutu militia group into its army to fight against the mainly Tutsi M23. M23, which first emerged in 2012, is one of the most prominent militias battling for control of the DRC's mineral wealth. The rebel group also claims to defend the interests of the Tutsis and other Congolese minorities of Rwandan origin. UN experts and much of the international community believe that Rwanda backs M23 and supports the rebels with troops, leaving the nation on the cusp of war with the DRC over this alleged territorial violation. The Rwandan government has not acknowledged this claim but insists it protects itself against the Hutu militia operating in the DRC, which it describes as an 'existential security threat to Rwanda.' M23 occupies strategic mining towns in the DRC's eastern provinces of North and South Kivu. In a report in December, the UN Group of Experts on the DRC said they found evidence that minerals 'were fraudulently exported to Rwanda' from the DRC 'and mixed with Rwandan production.' Rwandan President Paul Kagame drew outrage last year when he admitted in a public address that Rwanda was a transit point for minerals smuggled from the DRC but insisted his country was not stealing from its neighbor. What's contained in the US peace deal? Washington's peace accord contains provisions on 'territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities,' including 'disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups,' according to a copy of the document viewed by CNN. Before hosting the signatories in the Oval Office on Friday afternoon, Trump told reporters that the accord allows the US to get 'a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo.' While the signed peace agreement does not specifically forfeit any mineral rights to the US, the document includes a framework 'to expand foreign trade and investment derived from regional critical mineral supply chains,' specifically to 'link both countries, in partnership, as appropriate, with the U.S. government and U.S. investors.' Other points include 'facilitation of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as humanitarian access' and the establishment of a 'regional economic integration framework' that could attract significant US investments into Rwanda and the DRC. Members of the M23 armed group ride in a vehicle formerly belonging to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) while patrolling a street in Goma on January 29, 2025. AFP/Getty Images However, the rebel coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), of which M23 is a key member, told CNN it did not participate in the US-brokered peace process between the Rwandan and Congolese governments, but was instead committed to a separate negotiation process mediated by Qatar in its capital Doha. Asked whether AFC would surrender its arms, Victor Tesongo, a spokesperson for the coalition, said it was 'not there yet' and that it was waiting on developments in Doha. He did not confirm whether airports in the eastern DRC that had been shut by the rebels would reopen for aid supply. Why US efforts may fail Previous truce agreements have failed to bring lasting peace between M23 and the Congolese armed forces. In April, the rebels jointly declared a truce after meeting with representatives of the DRC during negotiations led by Qatar. Fighting flared up days after. Qatar has been facilitating talks after Angolan President João Lourenço quit his mediation role following months of inability to broker peace. Activist Kubelwa told CNN that while the US and Qatar-led peace efforts were commendable, 'any deal that doesn't address the root causes (of the conflict) will only serve as a temporary truce.' One of those root causes, he said, was the 'unfair distribution' of the DRC's mineral wealth, which he claimed, 'benefits a small elite and foreign powers, while ordinary Congolese, especially in the east, suffer displacement and misery.' The DRC is roughly the size of western Europe and is home to more than 100 million people. The Central African nation is also endowed with the world's largest reserves of cobalt – used to produce batteries that power cell phones and electric vehicles – and coltan, which is refined into tantalum and has a variety of applications in phones and other devices. However, according to the World Bank, 'most people in DRC have not benefited from this wealth,' and the country ranks among the five poorest nations in the world. Kubelwa said another trigger for the conflict in the DRC was the country's 'weak institutions' and 'suppression of dissent.' A fragile peace Ahead of signing the US-brokered peace deal, Nduhungirehe, the Rwandan foreign minister, told CNN that his nation was 'committed to supporting the ongoing negotiations,' but warned that ending the conflict 'will depend on the political will and good faith in Kinshasa,' referring to the DRC's government. The DRC foreign minister's office said it would comment on the deal after the document is signed. Congolese human rights activist and Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege has described the deal as 'vague' and tilted in Rwanda's favor. After details of the draft agreement were announced last week, he posted a statement on X criticizing it for failing to recognize 'Rwanda's aggression against the DRC,' which he wrote, 'suggests it (the peace accord) benefits the unsanctioned aggressor, who will thus see its past and present crimes whitewashed as 'economic cooperation.'' He added: 'In its current state, the emerging agreement would amount to granting a reward for aggression, legitimizing the plundering of Congolese natural resources, and forcing the victim to alienate their national heritage by sacrificing justice in order to ensure a precarious and fragile peace.' Congolese political and economic analyst Dady Saleh told CNN he 'remains skeptical' about the ability of the US peace treaty to ensure a path to peace. For Kubelwa, 'a true and lasting solution must go beyond ceasefires and formal agreements. It must include genuine accountability, regional truth-telling, redistribution of national wealth, reform of governance, and a broad national dialogue that includes all Congolese voices not just elites or foreign allies.' 'Without this, peace remains a fragile illusion,' he said. CNN's Jennifer Hansler and Max Saltman contributed to this report.

Egypt Secures Strategic Membership at ARSO
Egypt Secures Strategic Membership at ARSO

See - Sada Elbalad

time15 hours ago

  • See - Sada Elbalad

Egypt Secures Strategic Membership at ARSO

Taarek Refaat In a notable diplomatic achievement, Egypt has been elected to both the Board of Directors and the Standards Management Committee (SMC) of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), reinforcing its position as a regional leader in quality infrastructure and industrial development. Represented by the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOSQ), the country secured the prestigious seats during ARSO's 31st General Assembly, held this week with participation from 34 African nations — the largest attendance in the organization's history. The elections were fiercely contested, with only 12 countries earning seats on the Board and six selected for the influential Standards Management Committee. Egypt now joins an elite group of nations, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, in shaping the continent's standardization roadmap through the SMC. Meanwhile, the Board of Directors now includes Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, and others. "This victory reflects the deep trust our African partners place in Egyptian expertise and our long-standing commitment to advancing quality systems across the continent," said Eng. Khaled Sofy, Head of EOSQ, following the announcement. Sofy credited the achievement to strategic national support, particularly from Vice Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Gen. Kamel El-Wazir, noting that 'Egypt's voice in regional and international quality platforms continues to grow stronger thanks to sustained government backing.' The General Assembly also saw several key milestones: The election of Botsile Kebapetse as ARSO's new President for the 2025–2028 term, succeeding Prof. Alex Dodoo. The admission of The Gambia as ARSO's 44th member state, signaling growing continental cohesion around unified quality standards. Egypt's new roles in ARSO are expected to enhance its influence on policy-making related to industrial standardization and technical regulations. Officials say this will play a pivotal role in accelerating intra-African trade, reducing technical barriers, and supporting the goals of Agenda 2063 — the African Union's blueprint for inclusive and sustainable development. 'Being at the heart of ARSO's leadership allows us not just to contribute but to help steer regional industrial policy in line with global standards,' Sofy emphasized. The outcome cements Egypt's reputation as a powerhouse in the standardization space, with broader implications for trade facilitation, product safety, and cross-border industrial cooperation across Africa. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store