Strengthening Egypt’s relations with Africa is a win-win -ISS

If Egypt can reorient itself as an African power, “it would be a win-win for the continent,” Simon Allison writes for the Institute for Security Studies. “Egypt is finally embracing its African identity” in its attempts to forge new alliances, particularly after the perceived fallout with Saudi Arabia. Allison says, “Egypt has been making up for lost time. There is now more than [USD 8 bn] of Egyptian investment on the continent… and contributes a hefty 12.5% of the AU’s budget. It is involved in peacekeeping operations all over Africa.” Allison says major challenges for Egypt’s relations in Africa remain, including the dispute with Ethiopia of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project, as well as concerns over racism.