Egypt's Africa Policies
By: Dr. Iglal Ra'fat
The study deals with the following:
* Egypt's Africa interests
* Egypt's home scene
* The African scene
* International conditions affecting the Egypt-Africa nexus.
* Egypt's Africa policy-making.
* Assessing Egypt's policies in Africa
Egypt's Africa interests
They include economic interests: (potential markets for Egyptian products and technical expertise particularly in the area of agriculture, technology, and medium and small industries); strategic interests (the Nile waters, and the Red Sea); political interests (Egypt seeks to rally African support behind it in regional and international arenas).
For the purpose of the study, the continent has been divided into sections each with a special significance to Egyptian policy-makers:
1. The Nile-basin countries with Egypt's obvious interest to protect its water resources.
2. The Horn of Africa, where Egypt seeks not only to protect its water interests but also to insure stability in the Indian Ocean and the southern entrance of the Red Sea.
3. Western Africa where trade and investment interest are paramount .
4. Southern Africa where Egypt seeks to promote trade and tourism and make use of the advanced technology of the State of South Africa in particular.
5. The sub-Saharan copper states; a group of countries lying at the heart of the Great African Desert with promising reserves of natural resources.
Egypt's home scene
The revival of the Egyptian economy has had its positive effects on the country's presence in Africa (the rise of the private sector, and of a number of small and medium-size industries together with investments being attracted toward sub-Saharan Africa). The shift to a free economy has also left Egypt's social and political scene completely changed.
The African scene
An African country, any African country, is home to people with different religious beliefs, hailing from different tribes with different ethnic origins. Despite the many raw materials abundant, and the extended areas of cultivable terrain available, economic conditions are declining in most African countries. This is mainly due to the spread of corruption and to the absence of a sound infrastructure base. Most African countries are burdened with debts depending for most of their living on foreign economic aid and assistance. Instances of social injustices have become commonplace all over the dark continent.
On the political plane, most African countries are locked in disputes over border lines with their neighbors. To add more to the difficulties facing Egyptian policy makers is the multi-cultural dimension characterizing the African society and leading to the various, if not conflicting, political and economic positions upheld by the different actors on the African stage. Competition by such powers as France, the US, Britain, Portugal and Italy stands yet another hurdle to be overcome.
International conditions affecting the Egypt-Africa nexus. The most recent are:
* The demise of Apartheid in South Africa.
* The accession to independence of Namibia and Eritrea. It is urgent that Egypt cultivate strong relations with the two newly independent African states.
* The disintegration of Somalia.
* The spread of the Iran-supported militant political Islam in the Arab region and Africa: Egyptian moves are required to counter the impact, particularly in the Horn of Africa and countries east of the continent.
* Iran's recent moves in Africa (the conclusion of several military and economic deals with African countries - the opening in Somalia of an Iranian agro-industrial trade fair).
* Libya's political moves in the continent (attempts at resolving border disputes - the creation of a grouping comprising Mediterranean and sub-Saharan African countries - the floating of the idea of an African Unon): coordination is required here so that these moves do not compromise Egypt's interests in Africa.
* A growing Yemeni role (the conclusion of security and trade agreements with the Horn-of-Africa countries - Yemen joining the Indian Ocean Group of States).
Other international conditions include:
* The collapse of the Soviet Union which brought the Cold War to an end and drove the Russians out of their African footholds.
* The eruption of African conflicts and disputes which prompted increased American and French intervention in the continent.
* The emergence of the US and France as contenders against Egypt in Africa.
* The growing importance of the EU.
* Asia's growing economic role.
Egypt's Africa policy-making.
- In dealing with Africa, Egypt moves in a accordance with a set of policy rules which includes refraining from interfering in the internal affairs of African countries, withholding assistance offered to parties at conflict, and countering foreign attempts at destabilizing the region. Egypt also holds that African disputes should be resolved peacefully under the umbrella of the OAU.
- Cooperation with Africa is based on an exchange of a compendium of trade and economic interests. Numerous projects have been established at the bilateral and multi-lateral levels, with either government and/or private sector contribution. Egypt also offers technical assistance wherever required in Africa.
- A more solid line of policy is adopted in Nile-basin countries and the Horn-of-Africa region where Egypt has greater strategic interests at stake than at any other part of the black continent.
Assessing Egypt's policies in Africa
The positive aspects:
- Since the mid-1990s, Egypt has sought a growing political role in the continent, hence its initiative for resolving the crises in Somalia and Sudan.
- Egypt's has joined COMESA, the Indian Ocean Group of States and the IGAD.
- Through its various institutes and agencies, Egypt provides training to Africans in the field of agriculture, religion (Al Azhar) media and security.
- The assistance offered by the Egyptian Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa.
The negative aspects: - The number of Egyptian cultural centers in Africa have dropped from 16 in the 1950s to four in the 1980s and then to two in the 1990s.
- Egyptian experts sent to Africa have no knowledge of the continent's history or culture.
- No student exchange exists with the continent; Egypt only receives African students seeking to study in Egyptian institutions.
- Most scholarships offered by Egyptian universities to African students are in the field of humanities; with none offered for scientific studies.
- Egyptian NGOs show no interest in African affairs. - Cultural relations, particularly in respect of the arts, are extremely limited.
