The historic summit held between President Mubarak and South African President Thabo Mbeki yesterday in Pretoria would lay down the basis for a new stage of strategic relations between the two largest countries in Africa. In fact, the benefits of this stage would not be confined to the peoples of the two countries given that they would extend to include every corner of the African continent which suffered from the policies of colonialism and the conflicts which tear apart the African countries. And as Egypt played a role in the past to help liberate most of the African countries and rid them of occupation, it will play a tangible role in ridding Africa of its economic problems.

The visit of Mubarak to South Africa and Uganda acquires a special importance in light of the current regional and international circumstances and the hike seen in the prices of foodstuffs from which Africa suffers the most despite the immense potentials it possesses. We wish that the economic cooperation between Egypt and South Africa would be promoted to the level of their strategic relations in order to benefit from the fruits of Mubarak's visit in the near future.

Al Akhbar

30 / 7 / 2008