Ambassador Shoukry discusses “Egypt’s engagement in the African continent” at the Africa Society Dinner

13 April 2009

Ambassador Shoukry, Egypt's Ambassador to the United States, made a speech at the “Conversation and Dinner with African Ambassador Series” organized by “The Africa Society” at the Senate Office Building on Thursday, March 26th. The event was attended by Senator Lugar and Congressman Payne as well as other senior congressional staffers and Africanists in Washington.

Below is the text of Ambassador Shoukry's speech titled “Egypt’s engagement in the African continent”.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to be among you this evening at the beginning of the “Conversation with the African Ambassadors’ series”, organized by the African Society. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bernadette Paolo for organizing this event. I would also like to thank the sponsors of tonight’s event; Exxon Mobil and “MARS incorporated”.

Egypt has a historic and a deeply rooted relationship with its African motherland. Both history and geography speak volumes of the symbiotic relationship between Egypt and “Mother Africa”. Our African continent, naturally, constituted a major component in Egyptian policy for centuries. Since the dawn of history, Egypt recognized the vital importance of the geographical continuity and national security depth that its African continent provides. The Nile River- the lifeline of the Egyptian civilization- originates in the Eastern and central regions of the continent and has always provided the vast majority of Egypt’s water needs. Moreover, other African communities had been an important trading partner for ancient Egyptians. It is recorded in our ancient history that around the fifteenth century B.C., Queen Hatshepsut dispatched the first trade mission to Punt-land (now Somalia).

Contemporary Egypt is even more aware of its African identity and its responsibilities in the same way it perceives its Arab, Muslim and Mediterranean identities and responsibilities. In the nineteen-sixties, Egypt embraced the leaders of African independence movements (such as the African National Congress), provided political support to the newly independent African Nations and protected the sovereignty of sister African States such as Congo, Nigeria and Somalia. Thus, it is clear that the Egyptian policy has been naturally formulated, both historically and currently, to reflect our geo-strategic integration within our continent.

Currently, Egypt plays a significant role in protecting the peace and security of its continent. Egypt has been actively involved in efforts aimed at resolving the conflicts in the Great Lakes region, Sierra Leon, Liberia as well as between Ethiopia and Eritrea. In total, Egypt participated in twenty three Peace-Keeping missions in Africa from Congo in 1961 to the current and ongoing UN African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). In addition, Egypt has established the Cairo Centre for Conflict Prevention and Resolution and Peacekeeping in Africa as a training hub for African military officers. It also contributes to building the capacity of diplomatic services in the field of maintaining peace and security in the continent. Egypt is currently embarking on establishing a larger regional centre for peacekeeping training for Africa as part of its commitment to assist efforts to enhance African peace-keeping capacity.

It is worth noting that Egypt is concerned with the current state of affairs in Sudan especially the crisis in Darfur and the future of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). President Mubarak’s visit to Sudan in November 2008 included both Khartoum and Juba. During his visit, President Mubarak reiterated Egypt’s commitment to Sudan’s unity, peace and stability where all Sudanese regions and tribes should equally share the dividends of economic, social and human development efforts. Regarding the Darfur crisis, Egypt has played a significant role in bringing different Sudanese parties to the negotiating table to reach a comprehensive and durable solution to the crisis. This has contributed in achieving the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed between the Sudanese Government and the Sudan Liberation Movement in May 2006 under the auspices of the AU and the US.

We continue our efforts to bring more rebel factions to the peace process. On the Peace-keeping level, we have contributed to the United Nations African Mission in Darfur with around 2500 soldiers and expressed readiness to provide one to two more infantry battalions to the same Mission. We also participate in the civilian component of the mission and have a field hospital in Al-Fasher in Northern Darfur.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Achieving African Development is the main challenge that faces our countries both individually and collectively. We recognize that progress in any part of our continent contributes directly to an achievement for the whole. For this reason, Egypt established the Egyptian Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa (EFTCA) in 1980. By establishing the Fund, Egypt introduced an unprecedented mechanism to promote cooperation among African brothers, so as to achieve comprehensive development. It also laid the foundation to foster cooperation between the south and the north through “trilateral cooperation”, allowing donor countries and regional international organizations to participate in supporting the exchange of expertise and knowledge among African countries. The ability of the Fund to dispatch almost seven thousand Egyptian experts to work in African countries and train the same number of African professionals in Egypt did not only support the national capabilities of our partners, but also strengthened cultural and social ties between us. The Fund’s activities extended to about 45 countries with its value exceeding 200 million dollars extending to all fields of development.

Egyptian efforts in Africa are not limited to Peace-keeping and technical assistance. In 2005, Egypt announced the “Mubarak Initiative for Education in Africa” where 200 full scholarships for four years were offered to African students in practical fields of studies. Egypt has also declared three important initiatives, namely: the establishment of an African center of endemic and infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS, the creation of a Pan-African satellite channel and the setting up of the African Center for Science and Technology. Furthermore, we are advocating the creation of an African Center for Disaster Relief to increase the capabilities and preparedness of African countries to face the challenges imposed by disasters. Egypt recognizes the importance of Pan-African cooperation and was one of the founders of the Organization of African Unity in 1964. We are currently among the five major African member states contributing to the AU budget, amounting to 15 percent of the annual budget of the Union.

On the sub-regional level, We have joined the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) in 1998 and since then our commercial relations with COMESA member states have been increasing in leaps to our great satisfaction to surpass $5 billion. Moreover, Egypt seeks to increase its cooperation with other regional economic communities of Africa. It acquired observer status in the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), and is currently exploring the possibility of concluding Free Trade Area agreements with other African Communities such as the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CAEMC).

Furthermore, Egypt is one of the five founding members of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) as a testament to our belief in the necessity to coordinate development efforts in Africa with international partners and to mobilize the resources needed to finance common developmental projects of Africa. Within NEPAD, Egypt is responsible for the agricultural and market access programs. In a nutshell, I would like to emphasize that Egypt is an African country that is very much aware and proud of its African roots. We are also dedicated to reinforcing our political, economic and historic ties with our African brethren. We will also continue to support African peace initiatives as well as African development schemes and plans and would very much appreciate the support of our friends in the US and of the international community at large, whether they are in the form of multilateral, trilateral or bilateral cooperation.

Thank you.