Egypt, Cameroon Enhance Ties with New Economic & Development Agreements

On Wednesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdel Atty reaffirmed the strong, historic relationship between Egypt and Cameroon, describing it as "brotherly and spanning several decades."

In a joint press conference with Cameroonian Foreign Minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Abdel Atty highlighted that Egypt was one of the first countries to recognize Cameroon’s independence in 1960 and established diplomatic ties a year later. This deep-rooted relationship, he added, has continued to thrive over the years.

During the meeting, Abdel Atty received a message from Cameroonian President Paul Biya to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, underscoring the bonds between the two nations. The ministers also convened the seventh session of the Egypt-Cameroon Joint Committee, marking the committee’s first meeting in years due to the pandemic. Abdel Atty expressed his hope that the committee would now meet annually, and he looked forward to visiting Yaoundé next year for the eighth session.

Abdel Atty emphasized Egypt’s desire to expand the relationship into stronger economic and trade ties, aiming to boost bilateral trade volumes. He noted Egypt’s commitment to supporting development in Cameroon, with Egyptian companies showing keen interest in investment opportunities, particularly in energy—including new and renewable energy sectors.

In agriculture, the two sides discussed opportunities for Egyptian public and private sector companies to invest in Cameroon's agricultural sector, producing crops that Egypt needs and exporting them to Egypt.

 Abdel Atty also pointed to collaboration in the pharmaceutical sector, with Egypt ready to share its expertise and technology to help Cameroon establish local pharmaceutical production, noting the strong reputation of Egyptian medicines in Africa.

Abdel Atty highlighted Egypt’s readiness to support Cameroon’s healthcare system, particularly with expertise in combating Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases. He offered to share Egypt’s successful healthcare model and extend the support to Cameroonian healthcare initiatives.

Education and scientific cooperation were also on the agenda. Abdel Atty discussed increasing scholarships for Cameroonian students to study in Egypt, especially at Al-Azhar University, which has historically provided educational opportunities for Cameroonian students.

In addition, the ministers addressed counter-terrorism efforts, with Abdel Atty outlining Egypt’s comprehensive approach to combating terrorism and sharing insights into Egypt's counter-terrorism experience. Both countries also exchanged views on the political and security situations in Africa, focusing on areas of common interest and the challenges in Central Africa and the Lake Chad region.

Following the conference, the two countries were set to sign agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding between the Egyptian and Cameroonian diplomatic institutes and a cooperation agreement between Cairo’s International Center for Conflict Resolution and the Cameroonian Commission for Disarmament and Reintegration.

The discussions included Egypt’s potential support in Cameroon's hydropower development, with Abdel Atty noting Egypt’s experience in building the Julius Nyerere Dam in Tanzania, which was constructed entirely with Egyptian expertise and financing. He emphasized that developing hydropower projects in Cameroon is a priority to help address the country's energy needs.