Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s visit to Niger, scheduled for Sunday, comes within the line of the state’s great interest to strengthen relations with the African countries, according to a report prepared by the State Information Service SIS.
“The investment and cooperation rates between Egypt and Africa have been recently doubled especially in coincidence with the country’s rotational presidency over the African Union in 2019”, the report read.
It added that President Sisi is set to chair the summit, which will take place later today, Sunday to launch the operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
"The meeting will focus on enhancing regional cooperation among African countries”, it added.
The report pointed out that the 12th Extraordinary AU Summit, scheduled to be hosted by Niamey, Niger on 7th and 8th July, will represent a turning point in the African economic cooperation.
The summit will also decide on the location and structure of the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The AfCFTA aims to make doing business on the continent easier and encourages African countries to trade among each other, while addressing issues that stifle intra-African trade such as high transport costs and cumbersome customs, among others.
The agreement also aims to increase the volume of intra-African trade from 17 percent to 60 percent by 2022.
The Extraordinary Summit is preceded by the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, which is underway.
Since its adoption, the AfCFTA has been signed by 52 countries, with 24 ratifications, thus ensuring its entry into force after it surpassed the threshold of 22 ratifications by AU Member States.
The AfCFTA presents Egypt with an opportunity for expansion to new markets in West and North Africa for the export of value-added goods as well as services.
Egypt and Niger
"On the bilateral level, Sisi’s meeting with his counterpart of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou will not be the first one.
The two presidents held meeting in October 2015 in the India on the sidelines of their participation in the ‘Africa-India’ forum in New Delhi.
Also, Issoufou visited Egypt in 2018, during which he participated in the Africa Forum held in Sharm El Sheikh.
Deeply-rooted relationships
Egypt and Niger enjoy historical relations for more than half a century. Egypt supported Niger to obtain its independence from the French occupation as was the case with all the African liberation movements.
The official diplomatic relations between Egypt and Niger began in 1969. Since then an Egyptian Embassy was opened there.
According to a report, Niger cut ties with Israel during the October 1973 war in implemented the decision of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
In recent years, the two countries have increasingly strengthened bilateral relations, as evidenced by successive meetings of Sisi and Issoufou.
On 27 October 2015, Sisi met with Issoufou on the sidelines of their participation in the India-Africa Forum in New Delhi.
During the meeting, Al-Niger’s President expressed his country's aspiration to develop bilateral relations with Egypt in all fields. He also expressed his appreciation for the technical support provided by Egypt in the fields of training and capacity building, pointing out to the significant role played by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.
With regard to fighting against terrorism, Sisi affirmed Egypt's support for Niger, pointing out to the importance of strengthening the international efforts to combat terrorism, which is a common challenge for the two countries
He also praised Al-Azhar's role in spreading the righteous teachings of Islam in the face of extremist ideas and Takfiri ideologies.
In December 2018, Issoufou also participated in the 2018 Africa Forum held in the resort cirty of Sharm el-Sheikh. During his word at the forum’s inaugural session, he thanked Sisi for organizing such an important event, praising the idea of establishing African continental free trade area.
In March 2016, President Sisi received Aïchatou Boulama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger.
During the meeting, he was delivered a letter from the President of Niger inviting him to attend his inauguration ceremony. The minister also expressed her President's appreciation for the great political and economic achievements in a short time.
In September 2017, Issoufou also held a meeting with Al Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed el Tayyeb during his participation in a Germany-hosted peace conference.
Issoufou praised el Tayyeb’s speech during the conference, which paid a special focus on the Muslims, especially the vulnerable ones.
The President extended an invitation to Al Azhar Grand Imam to pay a visit to Niger, saying that Niger’s people were waiting for such a visit.
El Tayyeb thanked Issoufou and expressed his appreciation to his people.
During his participation in the World Peace Conference held in September 2017 in the city of Muenster, Germany, President Essovo paid tribute to the Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, during which he praised the speech of the Grand Imam of the Conference on Peace Roads. The President of Niger invited Sheikh Al-Azhar to visit his country.
On November 2018, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met his Nigerien counterpart Kalla Ankourao on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings for the extraordinary AU summit, held in Ethiopia.
Their meeting touched on boosting the bilateral ties and the African issues of common interest.
Shoukry hailed the historic ties between Cairo and Niamey, especially as the vital role played by Niger in the West African coast region.
The Egyptian minister lauded the efforts of Niger to revive the economy and lure investments into the country, saying Egypt was ready to contribute to such endeavors through the Egyptian companies working in Africa.
For his side, Ankourao said his country desires more coordination with Cairo, praising the role played by Egypt to maintain stability of the African continent.
Trade and economic relations
The SIS report also tackled the trade relations between the two countries, pointing out that autos top Niger’s imports from Egypt, followed by agricultural fertilizers, , oils, perfumes, medical equipment and others.
In the coming period, the two countries hope to double the volume of trade between them, which does not amount to the level of relations and commonalities between the two countries.
They are members of many international and regional organizations and unions. Niger is also a key member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), which is considered one of Egypt’s main gateway to strengthening economic relations with West African countries.
Niger also is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in which Egypt has observer status.
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