Arab and African Youth Platform

-On 16/3/2019, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrived at Arab-African Youth Forum in Aswan aboard a Nile cruise ship, accompanied by a number of African youth.

First Day Events:

El-Sisi and his Spouse Opened Arab and African Youth Forum in Aswan

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his spouse (16/16/2019) witnessed the launching of Arab and African Youth Forum in the city of Aswan, "the capital of African youth", whose activities extend until next Monday. The forum is held under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and with the participation of more than 1,500 African and Arab youth to discuss issues and challenges of the continent and the Arab region.

The forum started with a celebration on Egypt assuming the chairmanship of the African Union, with the aim of highlighting the position of African and Egypt as a meeting point between the African and Arab civilizations and as a vital strategic hub for the partnership between them. Several prominent African figures also delivered speeches. 

Second Day Events:

El-Sisi Receives Chairperson of the African Union Commission

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki on the sidelines of the Arab and African Youth Platform in Aswan.
The Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency said that the President welcomed the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, expressing Egypt's aspiration to continue cooperation and close coordination with the commission's working group to advance the joint African action in various fields during the Egyptian chairmanship of the African Union, thus effectively meeting the interest of Africa.

The President also stressed the importance of uniting efforts to achieve tangible progress in the areas of top priority regarding the agenda of the African Union, particularly by focusing on the sectors of economic integration and regional integration, peace and security, institutional reform of the Union and cooperation with international partners.

The Spokesman further stressed the importance of intensifying the African Union's efforts to prevent conflicts and activate the African Union's policy for post-conflict reconstruction and development. This comes as part of a comprehensive approach based on development as means of addressing the root causes of conflicts and enhancing the capabilities of the State. In this regard, his excellency said he was ready to address this issue since he is leading the topics of post-conflict reconstruction and development within the framework of the African Union.

Faki stressed the importance and significance of Egypt in Africa, especially in light of being one of the countries that contributed to the founding principles of the Organization of African Unity, which represented the first pillar of joint African action. He expressed his confidence in the ability of the Egyptian chairmanship of the African Union to strengthen the development efforts in Africa. His excellency also said that Egypt will complete the process of institutional reform of the AU and ensure the maintenance of security and political stability in Africa, in light of the President's experience and political and developmental vision, taking into account that Egypt chairs the AU during a very sensitive timing, which in turn imposes huge challenges.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission also noted his keenness to participate in the Arab and African Youth Platform, which plays an important role in presenting the ideas of young people from the Arab and African worlds with their many historical ties. It also provides a great space for exchanging experience between the two sides and embodies the pioneering Egyptian position in Africa when it comes to focusing on youth and believing in their economic and intellectual power out of that the fact that the preparation of a better future for Africa begins with investing in the strength of its youth.

During the meeting, they tackled the developments of a number of current issues on the continental scene, such as the developments in some of the conflict areas in Africa, efforts to settle them politically, on top of which is the Libyan issue, as well as developments related to addressing the issue of asylum and forced displacement in Africa according to the theme of the African Union, the Spokesman added. They also reviewed the AU financial and administrative reform seeking to develop the mechanisms of the organization and the latest preparations for the upcoming African Summit in Niger.

In that context, they agreed on continuing intensified coordination and consultation in the upcoming phase. The President also welcomed meeting with Chairperson of the AU Commission on a regular basis to establish a firm working principle during the year of the Egyptian chairmanship, stemming from Egypt's keenness to support and promote the joint African action and follow up its mechanisms.

-President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi chaired the round table meeting entitled "Nile Valley, a Corridor for African and Arab Integration".

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi announced, during his speech at the closing session, a number of recommendations that were agreed upon during the Arab-African Youth Forum, most notably:

1- The Council of Ministers, in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education, opens the door for participation for researchers from Arab and African countries, to benefit from the Egyptian Knowledge Bank.

2- The Ministry of Higher Education, in coordination with the National Academy, established a cooperation council between Arab African universities, to be an effective platform for promoting scientific and cultural cooperation in order to train and qualify young people.

3- The Ministry of Health, in coordination with the concerned agencies in the country, established an Egyptian initiative to eliminate virus C for 1,000 million Africans.

4-  World Youth Forum administration formed a work mechanism to assume a special visualization tool to achieve the Arab-African integration forms in all fields.

5- World Youth Forum administration formed a working group of Arab African youth to lay out a vision for coping mechanisms to fight intellectual polarization and eliminate terrorism and extremism.

6- World Youth Forum administration has been preparing for Egypt and Sudan Forum to enhance relations and integration between the two brotherly countries.

7- Based on the responsibility of chairing the Arab-African Forum, in coordination with the African Union Commission and the Secretariat of the Arab League, specific proposals were presented to the upcoming Arab-African Summit in the following three areas:

- Establishing a common Arab-African market.

-Creating a fund to develop African communication in the areas of roads, railways and electricity.

-Establishing an Arab-African mechanism to fight terrorism and achieve security and stability.

8- It is important to devote attention to employing media platforms and social media to remove the distorted image of African-Arab relations.

9 - Work to empower youth and women by converting political will into practical measures to prepare and qualify them through the advancement of education and training.

Third Day Events:

President El-Sisi’s Tour in The Temple of Philae in Aswan

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi made a tour in the Temple of Philae in Aswan with a group of Arab and African youth.

El-Sisi Holds Interactive Dialogue this Afternoon

President El-Sisi listened to innovative ideas regarding the prospects of enhancing Arab-African integration under Egypt's chairmanship of the African Union and ways of transferring the Egyptian experience of empowering the youth to Arab and African brothers and sisters.