Inaugural Alamein Africa Forum opens in New Alamein, Egypt, with about 1,500 participants

Centre · 1The inaugural Alamein Africa Forum opened on Friday 2 October in the northern Egyptian city of New Alamein. Anadolu Agency reported that it brought together 1,500 officials, business leaders, investors and representatives of financial institutions from Africa. 1 Right · 1Arab News described the three-day gathering as bringing together more than 20 heads of state and government representatives, alongside business leaders, bankers and development institutions. 2 Centre · 1The forum is co-organised by Egypt, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). The African Union approved holding it every two years in New Alamein at its February 2026 summit. 1

Centre · 1Its agenda covers trade, food security, energy, infrastructure, financing, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and critical minerals. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told the opening session that Africa is at an "important moment" offering opportunities for economic transformation, while facing problems of financing, infrastructure, a high cost of capital and barriers to intra-African trade. 1 Centre · 1Planning Minister Ahmed Rostom said Africa's economy is about $3.6 trillion, but its share of global trade is only around 1.5% despite about one-fifth of the world's population. 1 Centre · 1In his opening speech on Saturday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the private sector contributes more than 70% of Africa's GDP, but about 85% of its transactions are with companies outside the continent. He said intra-African trade has been only about 18% of the continent's total trade in recent years. 3

Right · 1African Union Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf gave a different figure, telling delegates that intra-African trade reached $220 billion in 2024, or 14.4% of the continent's trade, up 12.4% after a 5.9% contraction the previous year. He said "Africa can do much better". 2 Centre · 1Sisi also said economic development cannot be built in unstable countries. He called for prioritising peaceful solutions to conflicts, supporting state institutions and respecting state sovereignty. He cited the current energy crisis, with rising fuel and fertiliser prices and disrupted supply and shipping chains, as an example of global shocks that Africa suffers without being a party to them. 3 Centre · 1On the sidelines, Sisi met Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, the current African Union chairperson. According to a presidency statement, Sisi reiterated Egypt's rejection of using the Nile water issue for political gains and stressed cooperation among basin countries. He also met Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to discuss security in the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. 4

Centre · 1Anadolu said these meetings came amid a growing dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. It cited Ethiopia's decision on Thursday to sever diplomatic relations with Eritrea and an exchange of diplomatic expulsions between Cairo and Addis Ababa. The African Union Commission called for calm among the three countries, though an Egyptian official source said Cairo had reservations about its statement. 4 Right · 1Arab News placed the forum in the context of Egypt turning south to reclaim influence in a continent where China and Gulf powers, especially the UAE, have expanded. It said officials estimate Egyptian investments in Africa at around $14 billion. It added that Egypt is seeking broader African support in the dispute over the dam: Cairo sees the dam as a threat to its share of Nile waters and argues its operation needs a binding agreement, while Ethiopia says it is essential for development. 2 Centre · 1A summit of the founding states of AUDA-NEPAD, chaired by Sisi, was scheduled for Saturday in New Alamein, and the African Union's 8th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting for Sunday. 1