Egypt, Chad seek stronger economic and security co-operation

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati met his Chadian counterpart Abdoulaye Saber Fadoul on Thursday, on the sidelines of the Egypt-Chad Joint Committee to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties and coordinate positions on regional issues.

Abdel-Aati praised the longstanding relationship between the two countries and expressed hope that the fourth session of the joint committee would produce a number of agreements to strengthen the institutional framework for cooperation.

He also stressed the importance of the Egyptian-Chadian Business Forum and highlighted preparations for the Alamein Africa Forum, scheduled for Oct. 4 on the sidelines of the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit.

Abdel-Aati commended ongoing cooperation in infrastructure projects, particularly the Egypt-Libya-Chad road, as well as road construction and maintenance projects.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s interest in expanding trade, especially in the energy, construction and logistics sectors, while encouraging greater participation by Egyptian private companies in Chad’s development plans.

Abdel-Aati also highlighted Egypt’s medical mission to Chad in April, which carried out more than 500 surgeries in N’Djamena and inaugurated a dialysis center at the Central Hospital.

He called for the swift completion of the new campus of Alexandria University in the Chadian capital and reviewed Egyptian training and capacity-building programmes in border management, counterterrorism and security.

The talks also covered developments in the Sahel and Sudan.

Abdel-Aati reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting the establishment of parallel entities.

He stressed the need to respect Sudan’s sovereignty and support a Sudanese-led political solution backed by international efforts to restore peace and stability.