Egypt has invited Zambia to participate in its initiative to strengthen African integration through political cooperation, regional security and private-sector partnerships, describing the country as a key partner in Southern Africa.
Speaking at her residence in Lusaka during a briefing on the Alamein summits and Business Forum, Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia, Mayada Essam Abdelrahman, said the invitation followed a series of high-level African summits and a business forum hosted in New Alamein, Egypt, from October 2 to 4, 2026.
Ms Abdelrahman said the meetings demonstrated Egypt’s commitment to promoting dialogue, economic cooperation and continental integration.
The events, held under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, included the eighth African Union (AU) Mid-Year Coordination Summit, a summit commemorating 25 years of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the inaugural El Alamein Africa Business Forum.
“Joint African coordination is not an end in itself. Achieving true African integration is the ultimate goal,” she quoted President El-Sisi as saying in his opening address.
She said Egypt was positioning New Alamein as a platform for continental engagement, bringing together political leaders, development institutions and the private sector to advance common African priorities.
Egypt’s ambition, she added, was to transform New Alamein into the “Davos of Africa,” while maintaining a distinctly African identity.
Ms Abdelrahman said the inaugural El Alamein Africa Business Forum was designed to translate political cooperation into practical business opportunities, with a focus on partnerships among African countries.
The Ambassador said the forum provided a platform for communication between political leaders and private-sector representatives, as well as opportunities to develop economic cooperation and investment partnerships.
On regional security, Ms Abdelrahman highlighted the Joint Alamein Declaration adopted on October 4, following a quadripartite consultative summit involving Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan.
She said the declaration affirmed that Red Sea security was primarily the responsibility of countries bordering the waterway and stressed freedom of navigation.
The participating countries also rejected the militarisation of the Red Sea and proxy wars.
On Sudan, Ms Abdelrahman said the declaration reaffirmed support for the country’s unity and territorial integrity, called for an immediate ceasefire and emphasised the preservation of its national institutions.
She said the outcomes of the Alamein meetings reflected Egypt’s approach of linking political coordination with economic integration and regional peace.
Speaking at the same function, Sudan’s Ambassador to Zambia Elsadig Ali Sayed, called for greater African cooperation, dialogue and respect for national sovereignty in addressing conflicts and other challenges facing the continent.
Dr Sayed emphasised the importance of consultation, coordination and consensus among African countries in resolving regional disputes.
He said African countries should strengthen their commitment to finding solutions to the continent’s problems through dialogue and cooperation, rather than interference in the internal affairs of other states.
Dr Sayed reaffirmed Sudan’s support for efforts aimed at addressing Africa’s challenges and called for stronger cooperation among countries in pursuit of peace and stability.
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