Sisi 's Tour to West Africa Stresses Egypt ’s Pioneering Role: SIS

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi returned back to Egypt Friday following an overseas tour to three African Countries and the US, presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

In this regard, Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) released a report concluding what it called “Outcomes of Sisi's Tour to African Countries.”

The president's foreign tour to the West Africa region comes within the framework of Egypt's keenness to intensify communication and coordination with its African brothers, according to the report.

“This is the first African tour to be carried out by the head of state since he assumed the post of the African Union Chairperson on Feb. 10,” SIS reported.

It further added that Egypt aims to strengthen its relations with the countries of the continent in various fields, especially by strengthening mutual cooperation on the economic, trade and investment levels.

During the African tour, the president of Egypt held bilateral talks with the leaders of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal and addressed mechanisms of enhancing bilateral cooperation with Egypt.

Sisi in Guinea

Egypt’s Sisi visited Gamal Abdel-Nasser University in Conakry; Guinea accompanied by his Guinean counterpart Alpha Condé.

The largest and first higher education institution in Guinea, the university was named after late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel-Nasser in 1970.

During his tour at the university, Sisi unveiled a statue of Abdel-Nasser at the university campus. The Egyptian president also inaugurated a newly built complex at the university, which carries El-Sisi's name.

[caption id="attachment_45317" align="aligncenter" width="800"] President Abdel Fattah El Sisi with his counterpart Alpha Condé in Guinea in April 2019- Press Photo[/caption]

Meanwhile, the Guinean president welcomed Sisi's historical visit which is the first by an Egyptian president in more than five decades.

Condé commended the key Egyptian role, especially in view of Egypt's presidency of the African Union. The Guinean president voiced full support for Egypt's efforts to develop the AU.

Sisi in Cote d'Ivoire

Sisi received the National Order of Merit from Cote d'Ivoire during his visit to the African country.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara held a luncheon in honor of Sisi on his historic visit to Abidjan, presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said.

[caption id="attachment_45319" align="aligncenter" width="800"] President Abdel Fattah El Sisi with his counterpart Alassane Ouattara in Cote d'Ivoire in April 2019- Press Photo[/caption]

Ouattara welcomed the Egyptian president, whose visit was the first ever paid by an Egyptian President to Cote d'Ivoire.

On his part, the Egyptian president invited his Ivorian counterpart to visit Cairo.

Sisi in Senegal

Sisi said talks with his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall tackled means of boosting bilateral relations at the various political, economic and security levels.

Viewpoints were exchanged during the meeting about several regional and international issues, particularly the situation in the West Africa region, Sisi said at a joint press conference following his meeting with Sall.

[caption id="attachment_45320" align="aligncenter" width="800"] President Abdel Fattah El Sisi with his counterpart Macky Sall in Senegal in April 2019- Press Photo[/caption]

The Egyptian leader added that he agreed with his Senegalese counterpart on intensifying cooperation in the field of capability building via training courses provided by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development on different civil and military fields.