
FM affirms Egypt's support for South Sudan's peaceful transition to stability
During a phone call on Monday, July 7th, 2025, the minister of foreign affairs discussed with South Sudanese Foreign Minister Semaya Kumba bilateral relations and regional developments of mutual concern.
Abdelatty urged all parties in South Sudan to support the transitional process, foster consensus, prioritize the national interest and fully leverage the assistance provided by the international community and regional organizations.
He reaffirmed Egypt's keenness on the security and stability of South Sudan, emphasizing the importance of advancing bilateral cooperation in line with the shared interests of both countries.
The foreign minister also highlighted the deep-rooted mutual interests between Egypt and South Sudan in the various sectors, underscoring the importance of enhancing bilateral coordination.
Abdelatty noted the steady growth of Egyptian investments in South Sudan over the past decade, particularly in the fields of education, agriculture, irrigation, and healthcare.
He said the issue of Nile waters is existential for Egypt and that Egypt looks forward to a constructive stance from South Sudan – within the framework of achieving consensus in the Nile Basin Initiative – to address the concerns of the basin countries and to serve as a bridge for reaching solutions that ensure the realization of the shared interests of the Nile Basin states.
For his part, Kumba commended longstanding historical ties between the two countries and reaffirmed South Sudan's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Egypt in all areas.
He also expressed South Sudan's understanding of Egypt's water-related concerns and affirmed his country's commitment to engage constructively with Egypt in pursuit of their shared interests.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily News Egypt
2 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's Aviation Minister, German ambassador talk airport partnerships
Egypt's Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny and German Ambassador to Cairo, Jürgen Scholz, have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation, with a focus on airport development, training, and the exchange of technical expertise, the ministry said in a statement. During the meeting at the ministry's headquarters, El-Hefny welcomed the ambassador and affirmed the deep historical ties between the two countries. He said the ministry was working according to a comprehensive national strategy to develop the sector and improve services in line with global best practices. El-Hefny stated that the ministry 'gives great importance to expanding partnerships with the private sector and benefiting from leading international expertise' in areas like training and modernising airport systems. He added that Egypt encourages foreign investment and offers promising opportunities in its civil aviation sector. For his part, the German ambassador described Egypt as a strategic partner for Germany in the Middle East and said his country looks forward to strengthening cooperation, especially in air transport, which is witnessing notable development in terms of infrastructure and operational services. Scholz added that many major German companies are showing great interest in expanding in the Egyptian market and contributing to airport development projects, given their advanced technology and the promising investment environment that Egypt offers. At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue coordination, activate joint cooperation frameworks, and exchange technical expertise to support sustainable development in Egypt's civil aviation sector and solidify Egypt's position as a leading regional hub for air transport.


Daily News Egypt
2 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
EGP 600m allocated to employment under Agreement on Tackling Irregular Migration
The closing conference of the Agreement on Tackling the Root Causes of Irregular Migration was held on Wednesday, marking the conclusion of an initiative implemented by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA). The agreement, funded by the European Union (EU) and coordinated with several Egyptian ministries, supports Egypt's National Strategy to Combat Irregular Migration (2016–2026), aiming to address the economic drivers of migration through job creation and enterprise development. As part of the agreement, MSMEDA launched a broad portfolio of infrastructure, community development, and training projects across 11 governorates: Minya, Assiut, Dakahleya, Beheira, Sharqia, Fayoum, Gharbeya, Qalyubeya, Kafr El-Sheikh, Luxor, and Monufeya. These efforts aimed to create an enabling environment for establishing micro and small enterprises, generate employment opportunities, and offer viable economic alternatives to irregular migration. In total, about EGP 600m was dedicated to these activities. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, emphasised that the initiative translates the shared commitment of Egypt and the EU to sustainable and inclusive development. She noted that the agreement was implemented by MSMEDA with €27m in EU funding, delivering tangible outcomes in governorates with some of the highest rates of youth outmigration. Al-Mashat added that Egypt's national migration strategy focuses on integrating migration management with sustainable development goals. Through close coordination with international partners, Egypt works to expand economic inclusion, strengthen resilience, and foster regional stability. She pointed to the broader 'Enhancing Response to Migration Challenges in Egypt' programme — also supported by the EU with €63m — as a model for multilateral cooperation. This programme includes labour-intensive public works and entrepreneurship support schemes that have created thousands of opportunities for young people. Highlighting the comprehensive approach, she said that managing migration cannot be separated from empowering youth economically. This, she explained, directly aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and deepens the strategic partnership between Egypt and the EU in migration, development, and economic empowerment. As this phase concludes, she expressed hope for future projects to build on the lessons learned and sustained partnerships formed with local communities and institutions. In his remarks, Basil Rahmi, CEO of MSMEDA, underlined that the agreement — signed in 2019 and executed through mid-2025 — was implemented under directives from Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who also chairs MSMEDA's board. The project was supported by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Migration, under the auspices of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and in collaboration with the Ministries of Local Development and Environment. Rahmi stressed that this coordinated national approach reflects Egypt's commitment to tackling the economic roots of irregular migration. Rahmi noted MSMEDA's strategy to expand partnerships with international development organisations — led by the EU — to deliver more projects that strengthen entrepreneurship, particularly in productive and industrial sectors. He highlighted that these projects not only offer economic stability but also help young people find secure livelihoods within Egypt, reducing the need to migrate irregularly. Rahmi also mentioned that the EU commissioned the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at the American University in Cairo to evaluate the agreement's impact. The assessment confirmed that the projects had shifted young people's perceptions about irregular migration by showing them their economic potential in their own communities. This underscores the importance of such programmes in reshaping migration culture and demonstrating realistic alternatives. According to Rahmi, the agreement produced almost 4 million workdays for informal labour and created over 26,000 permanent jobs in the targeted governorates. In addition, 42,100 young men and women received entrepreneurship training and technical and vocational skill development to help them access the labour market or launch businesses. Speaking on behalf of Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Egyptians Abroad, Wael Badawy, Deputy Assistant Minister for Migration Affairs, praised the EU-funded agreement for addressing the complex drivers of irregular migration, especially economic challenges that often push youth to leave. He commended MSMEDA's effective implementation, noting that the results align with Egypt's vision of managing migration comprehensively, not only by controlling borders but by offering youth real alternatives and economic opportunities. Badawy underscored the EU's role as a strategic partner supporting societal resilience amid regional tensions and economic pressures. He noted that offering youth dignified work and development prospects turns migration into a choice rather than a desperate necessity. Annie Coufid, Head of Governance and Social Inclusion Team, speaking on behalf of Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt, congratulated MSMEDA for implementing the agreement effectively across 33 towns in the 11 governorates. She highlighted that the programme had succeeded in improving local infrastructure, delivering community development initiatives, and creating employment opportunities, thereby directly tackling migration drivers. Coufid emphasised that the project's success came from MSMEDA's deep engagement with local communities, responsiveness to their needs, and its ability to deliver concrete results within agreed timelines. She affirmed that the EU values its partnership with Egypt, which has been central to the agreement's achievements. Walid Darwish, Head of the Community and Human Development Sector at MSMEDA, presented a detailed summary of the programme's outcomes. He explained that the targeted governorates were chosen because they report the highest youth outmigration rates. Over the life of the agreement, 211 infrastructure sub-projects were completed, including replacing and upgrading drinking water networks, renewing sewage systems, canal lining, paving roads, tiling streets with interlock blocks, and restoring and maintaining public buildings. Additionally, hundreds of awareness seminars were held in collaboration with 166 local NGOs to inform youth and families about the dangers of irregular migration and available alternatives. Youth employability was supported by partnerships with 53 entities to deliver training, counselling, and guidance that equips them with technical skills needed for local job markets. Darwish noted that these interventions not only provided immediate economic benefits but also contributed to long-term community resilience by upgrading essential services and infrastructure. The closing conference concluded with a shared commitment among all partners — MSMEDA, the EU, and participating ministries — to build on these achievements. The next phase will focus on expanding successful models, strengthening entrepreneurship ecosystems, and integrating lessons learned to ensure youth can find dignified work and build futures at home. The Agreement on Tackling the Root Causes of Irregular Migration stands as a leading example of how coordinated, development-focused interventions can address migration drivers by investing in people, local economies, and sustainable community development.


See - Sada Elbalad
2 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egypt Reaches Preliminary Agreement with IMF to Merge Fifth, Sixth Reviews amid Cautious Privatization Timeline
Taarek Refaat Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Wednesday that the government has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to merge the program's fifth and sixth reviews, allowing more time for strategic state asset sales without compromising value. Speaking at a press briefing, Madbouly emphasized that while Egypt has met all IMF targets under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) — including currency flexibility, reserves accumulation, and fiscal discipline — the only exception has been the pace of privatization. 'It was expected that we would achieve a certain volume of asset offerings by a specific date,' Madbouly stated. 'However, we as a government concluded that it was not appropriate to proceed with selling state-owned assets in a market environment that does not ensure fair value. We're not just meeting targets for the sake of it.' Privatization on Hold Until Market Conditions Improve The Prime Minister clarified that the delay in public asset sales was a deliberate and economically justified decision, noting that the goal is to maximize value for state-owned enterprises, not just meet numerical targets tied to the IMF program. As part of the agreement with the IMF, the fifth and sixth program reviews will now be consolidated and postponed until the final quarter of 2025, giving Egypt more time to prepare for favorable market conditions. Reform Momentum Maintained Despite the adjusted timeline for privatizations, Madbouly affirmed that Egypt remains fully committed to structural reforms under the IMF program. He highlighted the government's progress on multiple fronts, including: Maintaining a flexible exchange rate regime Meeting foreign reserve targets Reducing public spending and slowing state-led investments Expanding the private sector's share in total investment 'Across all macroeconomic indicators, Egypt is progressing successfully,' he added. IMF Agreement and Structural Reforms Egypt is currently under a $3 billion IMF Extended Fund Facility arrangement, agreed in December 2022, which includes commitments to fiscal consolidation, subsidy reform, and boosting private sector participation in the economy. Privatization is a key pillar of the reform package, aimed at generating revenue and reducing the state's footprint in commercial sectors. The recent fire at the Ramses Central Telecom hub and the resulting disruptions to digital infrastructure had no reported impact on IMF-related timelines, though they have added to the government's broader narrative on the importance of economic resilience and strategic patience. IMF 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 Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters 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 News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean