Politics
African Union opens eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Egypt's New Alamein
October 4, 2026 at 08:31 AM · Updated 12d ago
Coverage
21 reports · over 42 hours
AU leaders convened the eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in New Alamein, Egypt, on Sunday, with African integration and the continental free trade area on the agenda.
- Sisi said Egypt rejects external intervention in African states' internal affairs and called for full activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
- AU chairperson Ndayishimiye said a free trade area alone is insufficient without boosting the continent's production capacity, citing infrastructure and financing gaps.
- AU Commission Chair Youssouf said economic integration depends on a clear division of roles between the AU and regional blocs and on funding development projects.
- Egypt launched the first edition of the El Alamein-Africa Business Forum, with the second edition scheduled for 2028.
- Sisi said El Alamein, site of a major World War II battle and long affected by landmines, offers a model for turning conflict zones into development opportunities.
- Sisi said sustainable management of shared water resources is a true test of African integration, welcoming the AU's 2026 water and sanitation theme.
- Sisi said coordination among African states is a means, not an end, to move from fragmented efforts to integrated ones with tangible impact on people's lives.
- Youssouf said Africa must adapt to rising global geopolitical tensions and overcome institutional obstacles to advance integration.
- Sisi said Africa is no longer merely a consumer market but a promising manufacturing and technological partner, urging technology transfer and industrial localization.
- Sisi called for reforming the international financial system, arguing African states bear high debt costs despite a climate crisis they did not cause.
- Egyptian Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi said Egypt serves as a hub linking Africa's petroleum and mining resources to global markets through refining, manufacturing, and export.
- Egyptian Planning Minister Ahmed Rostom said Egypt aims to build an integrated ecosystem to support startups in manufacturing, AI, green industries, and fintech.












