President El-Sisi receives his Angolan Counterpart in Cairo

CAIRO – 29 April 2025: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Angolan President João Lourenço in Cairo on Monday, in his capacity as the current Chairperson of the African Union. The high-level meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral relations between Egypt and Angola while addressing shared challenges facing the African continent.

The visit comes as part of broader diplomatic efforts to enhance coordination among African nations and reinforce the African Union's role in advancing development, peace, and security.

During their talks, Presidents El-Sisi and Lourenço underscored their commitment to expanding cooperation across various sectors, including infrastructure development, energy, trade, education, and security. Both leaders expressed their mutual desire to build a strategic partnership that supports sustainable growth and regional integration.

President El-Sisi highlighted Egypt's readiness to share its expertise with Angola, particularly in technical training, renewable energy, and public infrastructure. He noted that Egypt sees Angola as a vital partner in southern Africa and emphasized the importance of bolstering economic and diplomatic ties.

The meeting also focused on key African issues such as conflict resolution, combating terrorism, climate change, and food insecurity. As Chair of the African Union, President Lourenço emphasized the need for African-led solutions to African problems and expressed his commitment to reinforcing cooperation within the AU framework.

Both presidents agreed on the necessity of collective African action to support peace-building, enhance resilience to global crises, and promote sustainable development across the continent. The leaders exchanged views on efforts to resolve conflicts in regions such as the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and Central Africa.

President El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's longstanding position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), stressing the urgent need to reach a legally binding agreement regarding its filling and operation. He emphasized that such an agreement would preserve the rights and interests of all concerned parties — Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia — and help ensure regional water security.

President Lourenço expressed support for African dialogue and mediation in resolving water-related disputes and affirmed the importance of maintaining stability and cooperation among Nile Basin countries.

The visit culminated in the signing of several memoranda of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation in critical areas, including security coordination, vocational training, and water resource management. These agreements reflect a shared vision for closer collaboration and long-term partnership.

President El-Sisi welcomed Angola’s growing diplomatic role on the continent and congratulated President Lourenço on assuming the African Union chairmanship. He expressed confidence in Angola’s leadership in advancing the AU’s Agenda 2063 and supporting African unity.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of both countries’ commitment to multilateralism, regional integration, and the principles of mutual respect and shared prosperity.

President Lourenço’s visit to Cairo marks a new chapter in Egypt-Angola relations and underscores the importance of African solidarity in facing global and regional challenges.