Cairo is ready to share expertise in combating terrorism with countries in the region facing insurgencies, its foreign minister has said

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has pledged technical, logistical, and institutional support to help Mali restore security and stability. The West African nation has been embroiled in deadly jihadist violence since 2012, with Tuareg rebels and allied Islamist groups launching repeated attacks in the country's north.

Cairo's foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, announced the commitment during talks with Malian President Assimi Goita on Thursday, where they discussed strengthening ties in areas including education, health, and combating extremist ideology.

"The Foreign Minister affirmed that more than 100 Malian officials and cadres have benefited this year from training courses provided by the Egyptian government, in addition to specialized workshops and programs," Abdelatty's office said in a statement.

The diplomat's visit to Mali was part of a tour of West Africa, accompanied by a delegation representing 30 Egyptian companies, for business forums aimed at boosting trade and economic cooperation, the ministry said.

Earlier on Monday, the minister concluded his visit to Nigeria after attending the Egyptian-Nigerian Business Forum in Abuja. He made his second stop in Burkina Faso on Tuesday and met with Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traore and other senior officials. According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty reiterated "Egypt's full support for Burkina Faso's efforts to combat terrorism and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity" during the meeting.

On Wednesday, the diplomat held "high-level talks" in neighboring Niger and inaugurated the first Egypt-Niger Business Forum during a visit that Cairo said "aimed to deepen bilateral ties as well as promote peace and security in the Sahel."

In a meeting with Niger's transitional leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, Abdelatty called for stronger defense cooperation in response to growing terrorist threats and armed group activity, stressing that stability in the Sahel is key to Egypt's national security.

"Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's pioneering experience in combating terrorism. He expressed Egypt's willingness to share this accumulated expertise with Niger and the Sahel countries," the ministry stated.

The minister concluded his regional tour in Senegal, the fifth stop on his trip, describing the country as Egypt's "strategic partner" in West Africa during a meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

(RT.com)