The Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Cairo, Nicole Shampaine, has conveyed to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi an invitation from the White House to attend the US-Africa Leaders Summit, scheduled for December 13-15.
This took place during a trip to Cairo by Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (SEHOA) Mike Hammer for talks with senior Egyptian officials.
The US Embassy said in a press release that Egypt’s participation in the event will help serve the interest of the region .
During his meetings with high-level officials in Egypt, Hammer probed the diplomatic efforts afoot to resolve the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in such a manner that serves the water and economic interests of all the parties involved, according to the US embassy.
Meanwhile, Hammer said his current trip, the first in the region, is intended to discuss the views of the Egyptian side on the GERD issue and gain a better understanding of Egypt’s water needs.
He noted that the US is actively engaged in supporting the diplomatic course under the sponsorship of the African Union (AU), with a view to thrashing out a deal that serves the needs of all riparian countries in the long run, the embassy said.
During a recent meeting with President Sisi, US President Joe Biden reiterated his administration’s commitment to preserving Egypt’s water security, and drawing up a diplomatic resolution for the GERD issue that serves the interests of all parties and contributes to creating a more peaceful and prosperous region, the embassy added.
It emphasized that Hammer’s current visit, paid only a few days after El- Sisi-Biden encounter, has focused on this priority, highlighting the long-standing history of the Egyptian-US partnership.
The US provided more than $3.5 billion for enhancing Egypt’s water security by ensuring adequate access to clean water for one quarter of the country’s population, improving water treatment services in Cairo and Alexandria, upgrading Aswan High Dam electricity generation capabilities, and developing water infrastructure in North Sinai, the embassy pointed out.
Source: State Information Service Egypt