Cairo, December 20 (Petra) – Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty said Egypt rejects any unilateral actions in the Horn of Africa or the Red Sea that could undermine the sovereignty of states in the region or escalate regional and international tensions.
Abdel-Aty said that Egypt is intensifying efforts to strengthen cooperation with Nile Basin countries, while underscoring its right, under international law, to take all necessary measures to safeguard its water security.
He made his statement during a plenary session of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Angolan Foreign Minister Tete António, Chairperson of the African Union.
Abdel-Aty added that the stability of the international system depends on respect for the rules governing relations between states. These include respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, rejection of imposed dictates or trusteeship and commitment to political solutions to disputes.
He noted that reforming the international system to better address contemporary challenges is no longer optional but imperative, adding that Africa with its vast human, economic and political potential must play a central role in shaping this system.
Abdel-Aty reaffirmed Africa's unified position on reforming the UN Security Council and called for restructuring international financial institutions to better meet the needs of African countries, particularly in terms of technology transfer and access to concessional financing.
He added that sustainable development cannot be achieved without security and stability, highlighting Egypt's belief in national ownership, the preservation of state institutions and adherence to African Union principles of sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
He called for a comprehensive political, developmental, social and intellectual approach to addressing the root causes of conflict and terrorism, within the interconnected framework of peace, security and development.
This approach includes investing in infrastructure, education and healthcare; empowering youth and women; strengthening counterterrorism capabilities; building resilient institutions; ensuring sustainable and predictable financing for African peace support operations; and advancing post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts, particularly through the African Union Centre for Reconstruction and Development hosted by Cairo.
The minister highlighted Egypt's efforts to help resolve the crisis in Sudan, support a Libyan-led political process free from external interference, secure sustainable funding for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), safeguard Red Sea security and freedom of navigation, bolster counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel and restore stability in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
//Petra// AK
