Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi (File photo)
President El-Sisi highlights Egypt’s commitment to African stability, development at AU Summit
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi delivered a key address today at the 7th Mid-Year Coordination Summit of the African Union, highlighting Egypt’s pivotal leadership of North Africa’s regional security capacity and its ongoing commitment to peace and stability across the continent.
Speaking as the current chair of North Africa’s regional mechanism for peace and security, President El-Sisi outlined Egypt’s efforts to enhance preparedness in response to the many complex challenges facing Africa. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to President João Lourenço of Angola, the AU Chair, and to President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea for their warm hospitality and leadership.
El-Sisi congratulated the new leadership of the African Union Commission, under Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and assured Egypt’s support for their ambitious reform agenda to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the AU.
“Africa today faces many interconnected geopolitical challenges,” President El-Sisi stated, referencing armed conflict, the spread of terrorism, transnational organized crime, and the effects of climate change. “These threats jeopardize our security, stability, and development. It is essential that we work together to overcome them.”
He emphasized the critical importance of strengthening regional African mechanisms for peacekeeping and crisis response, including the African Standby Force—in which North Africa plays an integral role—under Egypt’s leadership this year. El-Sisi noted the progress achieved in 2024, pointing to successful meetings of defence chiefs in Cairo and reforms improving operational readiness, financial sustainability, and regional coordination.
A recent joint field exercise in Algeria brought together military, police, and civilian components in a demonstration of unity and operational readiness. El-Sisi expressed particular pride in such regional cooperation and coordination, underlining the shared responsibility for peace.
“Egypt is fully committed to supporting North Africa’s readiness to protect our peoples, address their challenges, and realize their hopes for security and prosperity,” he said.
Concluding on an optimistic note, President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s dedication not only to North Africa’s stability, but also to the broader African Union vision of peace, reconstruction, and sustainable development post-conflict. “We believe firmly that peace is the foundation for development,” he said. “Integration is our path to a brighter future for our beloved continent.”