Day: February 8, 2022

Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, and his visiting Djiboutian counterpart, Ismail Omar Guelleh, discussed yesterday, bilateral relations and regional issues of common interest.

During a joint press conference in Cairo, Sisi said, the visit of Guelleh is a continuation of communication and coordination between the two countries, at various bilateral and regional levels, and a follow-up to the results of their consultations during Sisi’s visit to Djibouti last May.

“This outreach underscores the long-standing strategic relations that unite our two countries across all levels,” said Sisi, noting, the bilateral ties over the past period have witnessed significant steps in all political and economic fields.

The talks have been characterised by openness and transparency, that reflected the two countries’ consensus on many bilateral and regional issues, the Egyptian president added.

“We discussed all aspects of the ongoing cooperation between the two countries, notably at the economic, trade and investment levels, as well as, means to further advance them in a manner that befits the distinguished political relations between our two countries,” he said.

The two sides agreed on the importance of necessary support to boost mutual investments, the contribution of Egyptian companies to economic development efforts in Djibouti, and efforts to inaugurate a branch of Bank Misr there.

“We stressed the need to strengthen our efforts, to increase the volume of trade exchange between the two countries and establish an Egyptian logistic zone in Djibouti,” Sisi said, noting, they also discussed efforts to foster closer cooperation in the fields of transport and ports connectivity, as well as, efforts to establish direct flights between Cairo and Djibouti City.

The two presidents also exchanged views on joint cooperation in the areas of education and health.

Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to the persistent support for Djibouti, and providing training and building capacities in various fields.

Sisi said, they also discussed the developments in the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), underscoring Egypt’s political will to reach a legally-binding agreement, on the filling and operation of the dam within an appropriate timeframe.

Source: Nam News Network

Drought conditions have left an estimated 13 million people facing severe hunger in the Horn of Africa, according to the United Nations World Food Program.

People in a region including Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya face the driest conditions recorded since 1981, the agency reported Tuesday, calling for immediate assistance to forestall a major humanitarian crisis.

Drought conditions are affecting pastoral and farming communities across southern and south-eastern Ethiopia, south-eastern and northern Kenya, and south-central Somalia. Malnutrition rates are high in the region

WFP said it needs $327 million to look after the urgent needs of 4.5 million people over the next six months and help communities become more resilient to extreme climate shocks.

“Three consecutive failed rainy seasons have decimated crops and caused abnormally high livestock deaths,” it said in a statement. “Shortages of water and pasture are forcing families from their homes and leading to increased conflict between communities.”

More forecasts of below-average rainfall threaten to worsen conditions in the coming months, it said.

Others have raised alarm over a fragile region that also faces sporadic armed violence.

The U.N. children’s agency said earlier in February that more than 6 million people in Ethiopia are expected to need urgent humanitarian aid by mid-March. In neighboring Somalia, more than 7 million people need urgent help, according to the Somali NGO Consortium.

Source: Voice of America