Key⁢ Discussions and Commitments

Egyptian‍ Foreign ​Minister ⁣Sameh Shoukry opened the second ministerial conference, emphasizing the importance of African agency⁣ in shaping its own future. He highlighted egypt’s⁤ commitment to mobilizing funding ​for⁤ projects aligned with African aspirations,​ citing the establishment of the⁢ AD Center​ of⁤ Excellence for Climate Resilience ⁤as a concrete⁤ example. This center aims to support ⁢African-led climate adaptation and⁢ mitigation efforts.

Shoukry expressed “grave⁢ concern” over escalating international tensions and terrorist‍ threats across parts⁤ of‌ Africa, advocating for ‌peaceful dispute resolution and rejecting “foreign interventions” ⁣wich he believes worsen existing crises. ​⁤ This stance reflects a broader African Union‍ position on non-interference in sovereign ⁣states.

Water Security: A Critical Issue

Egypt’s reliance on the Nile River as its ‍”sole lifeline” ​was a central theme in Shoukry’s address.He called for the management of‍ transboundary ‌rivers to adhere⁢ to international law, specifically the principles ⁣of prior​ notification and avoiding harm to downstream nations. He envisioned rivers as⁤ “bridges for cooperation” rather ⁤than sources of conflict, a particularly relevant point given ongoing negotiations surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance​ Dam (GERD) (Reuters, December 11, 2023).

regional Stability and the Israeli-Palestinian⁣ conflict

Shoukry reaffirmed Egypt’s pivotal role in brokering the recent ceasefire in‍ the‌ Gaza Strip ⁤and ‍reiterated support for a two-state solution ⁢based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a ⁣Palestinian state. He urged an immediate ⁤start to reconstruction​ efforts in Gaza and firmly rejected ​any‍ attempts to alter the demographic or geographic reality of palestinian territories or displace its population. Egypt has historically been a key mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (council on Foreign relations).

Russian and African ⁤Union Perspectives

sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign minister,⁣ delivered a message ‍from ⁤President Vladimir Putin to the forum. Tete antonio, representing​ the‌ African Union, also delivered a speech outlining the AU’s priorities for strengthened African-Russian cooperation.⁢ Details of their specific remarks were not⁢ promptly available.