Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt hosts high-level African delegation at Magdi Yacoub Heart Center
In a remarkable display of regional partnership and medical diplomacy, a high-level delegation of African ministers visited the Prof. Dr. Magdi Yacoub Heart Center in Aswan on Monday.
The visit included Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, who was accompanied by Mr. Karamoko Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso; Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali; Mr. Abdi Salem Ali, Foreign Minister of Somalia; and Mr. Vincent Biruta, Minister of Interior of Rwanda.
The delegation was further joined by Dr. Ismail Kamal, Governor of Aswan, as well as representatives from regional and international organizations and development partners.
The visit highlighted Egypt’s commitment to strengthening ties with African nations and showcased the Yacoub Center’s pioneering efforts in providing high-quality healthcare not only to Egyptians, but also to patients from across Africa and other developing countries.
This event reflects Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s broader vision for human-focused diplomacy, using healthcare as a bridge for shared development in Africa. The visit also emphasized the fruitful collaboration between the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development and Prof. Dr. Magdi Yacoub, most notably their joint work establishing a new heart center in Rwanda. Slated to open in mid-2025, this facility will serve as a regional hub for life-saving cardiac care for the wider African community.
During the visit, Prof. Dr. Magdi Yacoub and his team guided the delegation through the center’s state-of-the-art medical facilities and explained the training programs undertaken for African and international medical professionals. These programs are helping to elevate healthcare standards and build professional capacity throughout the continent. The delegation was also briefed on the center’s future development plans, which include expanding patient capacity, supporting scientific research, and fostering international cooperation in cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Abdel Aty praised Prof. Dr. Yacoub and his team’s tireless service to the most vulnerable populations in Egypt, Africa, and beyond. He described the center as an inspiring model of “humanitarian diplomacy” and renewed Egypt’s commitment to supporting its vital work. Dr. Abdel Aty emphasized that such healthcare partnerships are cornerstones of Egypt’s foreign policy and essential to achieving sustainable development goals in Africa.
The visiting ministers expressed their great admiration for the advanced level of medical care offered by the Magdi Yacoub Heart Center, commending its leadership in bringing life-changing services to those most in need across the continent. They further highlighted the center’s contributions to training medical professionals and strengthening health systems in Africa.
This visit serves as a moving reminder that when nations come together in the spirit of compassion and cooperation, remarkable progress can be made for the benefit of all.