Sisi: Africa Faces Development Challenges Due to European Conflict

According to Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, who spoke on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Monday, the geopolitical crisis affecting Eastern Europe is the primary cause of the development challenges related to food security that Africa, which makes up 71% of the world's least developed nations, is currently facing.

She said during the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Doha, Qatar, from March 5 to 9. Many nations are unable to attain self-sufficiency in basic goods and balance supply chains as a result of the conflict.

To advance new ideas, secure fresh support commitments, and encourage the execution of the obligations reached via the Doha Programme of Action, world leaders, representatives of the commercial sector, civil society, politicians, and youth are attending the conference.

It's anticipated that the conference will reveal measures that will aid in tackling the problems facing the least developed nations.

President El-Sisi thanked Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the crown prince of Qatar and chair of the conference's fifth edition, President Lazarus Chakwera, the president of the Republic of Malawi and chair of the Least Developed Countries Group, and António Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, for calling this edition of the conference, one of the most significant international forums, in her opening remarks.

The conference also focuses on the efforts being made by the international community to create regional and international alliances in order to solve these issues and come up with solutions that will help those nations achieve sustainable development.

In order to attain security in this area, Al-Mashat stated that Egypt has been eager to introduce a national food and nutrition policy.

In line with the principles of the UN General Charter, she emphasised Guterres' responsibility to position the UN and its agencies at the forefront of helping developing and least developed countries address their development challenges, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and ensure that no one is left behind.

The health, economic, and societal costs of repeated global crises were discussed in El-address. Sisi's Al-Mashat spoke on the president's behalf and said that in order to find lasting solutions to the difficulties that developing nations are currently facing, it is crucial to address the economic, social, and environmental issues as well as to strengthen regional and international collaborations.

The address emphasised Egypt's leadership of the current session of the Steering the African Union Assembly on AUDA-NEPAD, which will take place from 2023 to 2025 and has the special purpose of enhancing cooperative efforts with African nations.

In order to achieve the goals of the African Development Agenda 2036, these objectives include stepping up efforts to mobilise financial resources in areas of priority for the continent, including infrastructure development. In particular, resources should be mobilised for 69 projects until 2023, including the Lake Victoria project and the Cairo-Cape Town Road.

Achieving industrial transformation, building on the achievements of the spectacular Africa Summit held in Miami in November of last year, and creating continental value chains are also included.

Another objective is to support African countries in taking advantage of the opportunities the agreement will present for economic integration into the global economy and the jobs it will create, particularly for young people and women, while also accelerating the realisation of the aspirations targeted by the Continental Free Trade Agreement.

The goals include emphasising the involvement of African nations because to their knowledge in infrastructure. Egypt has helped put numerous important projects in Africa into action, including the Julius Nyerere Dam in Tanzania.

The speech claimed that due to the effects they have on natural resources and the threat they represent to human life, climate change and natural catastrophes would continue to be crucial topics for discussion in international and regional forums.

It also emphasised Egypt's function during its COP27 Climate Change Conference leadership.

According to Al-Mashat, Egypt has been eager to create a cutting-edge model for developing and least developed nations to adapt to climate change through mitigation and adaptation projects, like the Decent Life initiative, a presidential project intended to develop the countryside, eradicate poverty in Egyptian villages, and provide high-quality basic services.

The speech supported UN efforts to share experiences, as well as national and international experiences, within the framework of cooperation with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023–2027 by investing in human capital, promoting job creation, aiding in the transition to a green economy, developing health and education sectors, strengthening national monitoring and evaluation systems, and localising sustainable development  goals.

Al-Mashat stated that Egypt is eager to see the Doha Plan of Action for the Least Developed Countries' successes.

In view of the risks and difficulties the globe is facing economically, President El-Sisi stressed the critical need of efficient multilateral development work as a lifeline for many developing and least developed countries.