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President Ramaphosa receives briefing from Russian counterpart

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, August 18, 2025

President Cyril Ramaphosa has received a briefing from Russian President Vladimir Putin on the outcome of his recent meeting with United States President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska. 

In a statement on Monday, The Presidency said President Putin expressed satisfaction with the manner in which his talks with President Trump proceeded and the emerging alignment on the peace process. 

“President Ramaphosa appreciated the briefing from President Putin. The President underscored the need for more compromise on key issues for lasting peace to be attained between Russia and Ukraine. 

“Both leaders once again pledged to maintain open lines of communication and to continue their cooperation on issues of bilateral interests,” the Presidency said. 

South Africa has maintained its non-aligned position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling on all parties to pursue negotiations as the only viable path to resolving the war. 

In June 2023, President Ramaphosa led a delegation of African leaders to Kyiv and St. Petersburg in a peace mission aimed at encouraging direct engagement between Russia and Ukraine.  – SAnews.gov.za

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Calm restored at Maponya Mall

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, August 18, 2025

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, says they have managed to stabilise the situation at Maponya Mall in Soweto, following community outrage over the death of an e-hailing driver there last week.

Diale-Tlabela visited Maponya Mall this morning in a bid to resolve tensions between the community, taxi drivers and e-hailing operators.

Last week, an e-hailing driver was shot dead, while two others sustained injuries. The local community blockaded entrances into the mall, which resulted in the closure of the mall.

The e-hailing driver, Mthokozisi Mvelase, 27, was killed while stationed at what is believed to be a pickup point at the mall, and that sparked violence in the vicinity of the mall. It is understood that Mvelase had just joined the e-hailing service. 

Diale-Tlabela’s visit was part of the her ongoing efforts to address tensions within the public transport sector, engage directly with affected stakeholders and assess the situation on the ground.

The MEC also interacted with the mall management and taxi operators.

“[We would like] to say to people of Soweto and the people of Gauteng that we now have things under control and we just met with the Soweto e-hailers’ organisation. Calm has been restored and the mall management has agreed to [re-open],” Diale-Tlabela said.

Additional law enforcement personnel are on the ground.

Diale-Tlabela said they are working with law enforcement to ensure that people are safe.

She said lawlessness will not be tolerated. 

“Let’s allow business to continue and allow other members of the community to have access to the services they so much need,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Department acknowledges outcome of labour force trends 

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Employment and Labour has acknowledged the release of the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2025, which reveals critical trends in South Africa’s labour market.

According to the QLFS, the official unemployment rate increased to 33.2%, while the number of people unemployed for longer than a year rose by 116,000. Short-term joblessness also climbed by 23,000. 

Although the expanded unemployment rate declined slightly by 0.2 percentage points to 42.9%, overall trends remain concerning.

In a statement on Sunday, the department commended Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) for its initiative to review and revise survey methodologies, particularly those targeting the informal sector.  

“This commitment is timely and necessary, enriching the national discourse and highlighting the urgent need for modernised tools and approaches that reflect the realities faced by South Africa and other emerging markets,” the department said. 

According to the department, only 16 in every 100 workers in South Africa are engaged in informal employment, compared to around 45 in comparable middle-income countries such as Mexico, Nigeria and Uganda. 

The department said this raises critical questions about whether the extent of informality is being underreported and how it could be better measured and supported.

The survey results also reveal widening inequalities in employment opportunities, with race, age, gender, location and education remaining decisive factors. The formal sector added 34,000 jobs in the second quarter, while the informal sector contracted by 19,000. The labour force expanded by 0.6%, yet unemployment growth (+140,000) far outpaced job creation (+19,000).

Job gains were mainly in the trade sector (+88,000), private households (+28,000) and construction (+20,000). However, losses were recorded in community services (-42,000), agriculture and finance (-24,000 each), transport (-15,000), utilities (-6,000) and manufacturing (-5,000).

Provincial data showed the Eastern Cape recording the highest employment growth at 6.5%, followed by Mpumalanga at 0.9%. By contrast, the Northern Cape (-8.3%), Western Cape (-4.1%) and KwaZulu-Natal (-3.1%) recorded significant job losses.

The department expressed concern over the persistent vulnerability of young people (15–34 years), warning that the situation could be worsened by the projected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of only 0.9% for 2025 and the impact of US tariffs on export-driven industries.

The department said the revision of labour data collection tools was critical to shaping evidence-based policies, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and youth.

“Such updates will enable interventions that are attuned to evolving labour market dynamics and the particular needs of vulnerable groups, especially women and young people, amid structural shifts in the economy and patterns of production.”

Paradigm shift

Given these persistent and emerging challenges, the department asserts that a paradigm shift is required in how South Africa approaches unemployment, particularly youth unemployment.

“This requires expanding viable livelihood pathways within the informal economy, tackling structural constraints that limit its potential as a site of dignified work and entrepreneurship, and enhancing policy design through richer data on informal sector realities. 

“We remain committed to fostering national dialogue, supporting skills development aligned with labour market demand, and championing the transformation of labour market systems for greater inclusion and resilience,” the department said. 

Stats SA is set to publish the QLFS for the third quarter of 2025 in November, incorporating new standards in line with the International Conference of Labour Statisticians.

The department urged stakeholders to engage constructively with the revised data and join in shaping the policies that will drive South Africa’s labour market forward. – SAnews.gov.za

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Empowering citizens with financial education

Source: Government of South Africa

The National Treasury Director for Financial Inclusion, Nontobeko Lubisi, has highlighted the importance of educating South Africans on sustainable finance practices to strengthen long-term financial stability.

Addressing the virtual launch of Money Smart Week South Africa (MSWSA) 2025, Lubisi said too many South Africans remain unprotected against shocks.

MSWSA is a national financial education campaign designed to raise awareness and empower South Africans with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed financial decisions.

“We gather at a moment when our financial choices are tested daily by economic shocks, rapid technological change, and widening inequalities. Insurance is still dominated by funeral cover, while other forms of protection remain out of reach. We must change this.  

“By expanding access to meaningful savings and insurance products, and pairing them with financial education, we can give families the resilience to absorb shocks and bounce back stronger,” Lubisi said on Monday.

She emphasised that access to financial services is not enough, as it must go hand-in-hand with knowledge, literacy and protection.

“South Africans have bank accounts, but many of these lie dormant. True inclusion is when people not only have financial services, but when they use them — sending money, borrowing responsibly, insuring their families, and building wealth.

“…Financial education matters. It is not only about knowing how to budget, it is about understanding products, risks and rights,” Lubisi said.

As South African consumers generally have limited resources and skills to understand the complexities of the financial sector, government introduced the National Consumer Financial Education Strategy.

According to Lubisi, the National Consumer Financial Education Strategy was a strong start, but remains fragmented and scattered in short-term projects. 

“That’s why have now drafted a Financial Education Policy, which is a unified, long-term vision that will empower South Africans not only to participate in the financial system, but to thrive in it.

“A financial system works only when people believe it will treat them fairly. This is why the Financial Sector Conduct Authority’s Treating Customers Fairly framework, and the upcoming Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill, are so important. They are not just laws. They are promises. Promises that the system will treat people with fairness and respect,” Lubisi said.

With the transformation of the financial system services, digital platforms are susceptible to online fraud, identity theft, and cybercrime.

“Access to the internet alone is not enough. We need skills to use these platforms safely, to build credit profiles, and to invest wisely. 

“Consequently, Financial literacy and cyber-awareness programmes must match digital skills training to prevent consumers from falling victim to scams,” she said.

Through initiatives like the Ya Rona Digital Skills Drive, over 20 000 people were trained.

Moreover, government is bringing Wi-Fi to rural households through the SA Connect programme.

“All these initiatives are very critical and should be recognized as interconnected with the financial sector’s digital financial literacy revolution. By equipping citizens with internet access, the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy lays the foundation for inclusive access to digital financial services such as banking, payments, and e-commerce,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Minister notes conviction in Compensation Fund fraud case

Source: Government of South Africa

Employment and Labour Minister, Nomakhosazana Meth, has noted the conviction of six individuals who pleaded guilty to orchestrating a fraudulent scheme to siphon Compensation Fund monies into their personal bank accounts through fictitious medical providers. 

According to the department, the six are part of nine individuals who were arrested late last year as part of an ongoing investigation. Three out of the nine individuals are proceeding to trial, and the six will be sentenced in November 2025. 

“This case should be a lesson to all those who orchestrate fraudulent schemes to siphon monies from the Compensation Fund that the department, with the assistance of the law enforcement agencies, will ensure that the individuals implicated in any of the ongoing investigations in and outside the Compensation Fund will face the might of the law,” Minister Meth said. 

The Compensation Fund exists to provide financial and medical support to workers who sustain occupational injuries or diseases in the course of their employment. 

The Minister added that any attempt to defraud the fund is not only criminal, but a direct assault on the rights of vulnerable workers and their families who depend on it for their livelihood and dignity.

“We commend our Anti-Corruption and Integrity Management team, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the judiciary for ensuring that justice has been served in this matter. Their work sends a strong and clear message that fraud and corruption within state funds will not be tolerated,” she said. 

The department has since intensified measures to strengthen governance, tighten internal controls, and enhance digital verification systems within the Compensation Fund.

These include:
•    Enhanced monitoring and auditing systems to track irregular transactions.
•    Collaboration with medical regulatory bodies to validate providers.
•    Introduction of advanced digital platforms to reduce human interference in claims processing.
•    Partnership with law enforcement to fast-track investigations and prosecutions where fraud is suspected.

“As the department, we remain steadfast in restoring public trust and ensuring that every rand in the Compensation Fund is used exclusively for the benefit of workers who have suffered occupational injuries and diseases,” the Minister said. 

The Minister further assured the public, workers, and employers that this conviction is not the end, but a continuation of the broader effort to clean up and safeguard all labour-related social protection institutions. – SAnews.gov.za

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Drought can make farmers feel worried and hopeless: Ghana study finds social networks help

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Seth Asare Okyere, Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburg and Adjunct Associate Professor, Osaka University, University of Pittsburgh

Droughts are a familiar hardship in Ghana’s semi-arid north, where rainfall is erratic and agriculture is the mainstay of rural economies. The economic and environmental effects of drought have been well documented. But less attention is paid to its psychological toll on farmers and their families.

We conducted a study in the Talensi district of Ghana’s Upper East region to assess the impact of drought on the mental wellbeing of peri-urban farmers in semi-arid Ghana. We are a multidisciplinary team of scholars working in the area of resilience, sustainability and more recently psychological wellbeing.

We also investigated whether social capital (people’s social support networks) affected the impact of drought on three mental health outcomes: depression, anxiety and stress.

Based on a survey of 507 farmers, we found that prolonged periods of drought were strongly linked to increased levels of depression, anxiety and stress.

Our research also offers hope, however: personal social capital reduced the severity of these mental health impacts.

Our findings offer important insights for policymakers, especially in the context of climate change, which is intensifying drought conditions in the region. This study is among the first in Ghana – and the broader west African region – to empirically examine the mental health effects of drought on farmers using validated psychological tools.

It opens a crucial conversation about how vulnerability in the era of climate change is addressed. Our study demonstrates that climate adaptation planning is incomplete without integrating psychological wellbeing.

Read more: Climate anxiety is real. Why talking about it matters

Vulnerabilities

Droughts are slow-onset disasters. Their effects accumulate gradually. But their impact on livelihoods and psychological resilience is deep.

In northern Ghana, where rain-fed agriculture dominates, even short delays in rainfall can trigger food insecurity, livestock losses and economic instability.

In the Talensi district, where we conducted the study, average annual rainfall is around 950mm. But it’s poorly distributed and increasingly erratic. The land has shallow, gravelly soil that has low moisture retention. These environmental conditions, compounded by the lack of irrigation infrastructure, make farmers highly vulnerable to climatic shocks.

For the study, we randomly selected 507 farmers across two communities – Awaredone and Yameriga. These communities combine crop cultivation with livestock rearing. Farmers cultivated mainly millet, rice, maize, cowpea and soybeans. Livestock were cattle, sheep and goats. We conducted our survey between September 2022 and March 2023. We used a combination of validated psychological scales and structured interviews in local languages to assess the impact of drought on mental health outcomes. We then used structural equation modelling to model our findings.

Our results were striking.

Stress levels

Our statistical modelling showed a significant link between the severity of the effects of drought and elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Farmers experiencing longer or more intense drought periods were more likely to report psychological distress.

Many farmers spoke about the hopelessness they felt when they watched their crops wither, or their animals die. They also spoke of the weight of not being able to provide food or income for the household.

Farmers reported symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, persistent worry, and even suicidal thoughts.

As one farmer we interviewed put it:

When the rains fail, it is not just the crops that die. Sometimes, our spirits die too. But when a neighbour shares food or even just listens, it brings life back.

Not all farmers were equally affected. Those with strong social support networks – including relationships with family, friends, neighbours and community groups – reported better mental health outcomes, even when they experienced the same drought conditions.

This is where the concept of personal social capital comes in. It refers to the resources – emotional, informational, or material – that individuals can access through their social relationships. In rural and peri-urban Ghana, this might mean receiving food from a neighbour, emotional support from relatives, or shared labour during the farming season.

Social capital acted as a buffer, we found. It moderated the relationship between drought and mental health outcomes. In other words, farmers with strong social ties were better equipped to cope with the psychological impacts of drought.

Read more: Five questions for African countries that want to build climate-resilient health systems

Why it matters

We conclude from our findings that combining social capital with other forms of capital – human, physical, financial and natural – alongside sustainable livelihood diversification programmes could reduce the underlying issues that make people vulnerable to the mental health impacts of drought.

This points to an urgent need to include mental health in disaster response and climate adaptation planning. As climate change intensifies, droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe in Ghana’s northern regions.

We argue that interventions should not only focus on boosting agricultural productivity or providing technical training. Instead, a more integrated approach is needed – one that combines climate adaptation with mental health support and community mobilisation. This is particularly relevant for the region, where health services are overstretched and mental health is often a taboo subject.

Therefore, enhancing social capital – through savings groups, farmer cooperatives, or traditional mutual aid networks – can improve psychological resilience. In practical terms, this might mean strengthening farmer-based organisations, promoting inclusive governance, and incorporating mental health education into climate adaptation services.

Donors and NGOs can also play a role by supporting psychosocial support programmes that are culturally sensitive and locally grounded.

If left unaddressed, the psychological burdens of drought could erode the social fabric of farming communities, reduce productivity, and trap households in cycles of poverty and distress. But if we recognise the value of social support systems – and invest in them – we can build more resilient, healthier communities.

– Drought can make farmers feel worried and hopeless: Ghana study finds social networks help
– https://theconversation.com/drought-can-make-farmers-feel-worried-and-hopeless-ghana-study-finds-social-networks-help-262627

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New KnowBe4 Report Finds Key African Industries May Be Dangerously Overestimating Cyber Defences

Source: APO

KnowBe4 (www.KnowBe4.com), the world-renowned cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, today released its new report “Africa Human Risk Management Report 2025”. The report reveals a mismatch between employer perceptions and employee experience of organisational cybersecurity in key African industries – with potentially costly consequences.

The report (https://apo-opa.co/45TKgqm) captures insights from cybersecurity decision-makers across 30 African countries. One of the biggest themes the survey uncovers is a mismatch between perception and reality: what employers believe is not necessarily what employees feel or experience.

In key growth-industries across the continent, cybersecurity preparedness and the actual structures needed to support secure behaviour seem misaligned.

The report highlights, for instance, that just 10% of cybersecurity leaders are fully confident that staff would report a phishing attack or other cyber threat, despite rating employee security awareness of cyber threats at four out of five or higher. Furthermore, a significant perception gap exists between decision-makers and general employees in Africa regarding security awareness training, with 68% of leaders believing that training is tailored to roles, compared to only a third of employees feeling adequately trained.

This contrast is underscored by the data showing that there is a difference between what leaders believe about security awareness training effectiveness and what employees actually experience. This is further emphasised by the fact that many organisations only conduct annual or biannual training that is too generic to effectively change behaviour, contributing to uncertainty about its effectiveness.

Previous end-user based responses (https://apo-opa.co/4mmEnIl) revealed that only 43% of African respondents felt confident in their ability to recognise a cyber threat, and just one in three believed their security awareness training was adequately tailored to their role. This comparison suggests the development of a dangerous perception gap in many organisations.

“There’s a disconnect here – between what leaders think is happening, and what employees are actually experiencing,” says Anna Collard, SVP content strategy & evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa. “The data shows that without procedural and cultural follow-through, awareness simply doesn’t translate into readiness.”

The KnowBe4 Africa Human Risk Management Report 2025 provides a glimpse into human cyber risk that reflects the real challenges – and overlooked opportunities – facing African organisations.

Key findings include:

  • Confidence vs. awareness: While cybersecurity awareness is high, leaders express uncertainty about their workforce’s ability to act on that awareness. Many feel employees may overestimate their capabilities in recognising, reporting, and mitigating threats. Larger organisations face greater challenges as they tend to train less frequently (often biannually or annually) and have lower confidence in their employees’ incident response capabilities compared to smaller organisations.
  • The need for adaptive and personalised security awareness training: Many organisations, across various sectors, fail to personalise security awareness training to specific roles or risk exposures. Sectors such as manufacturing and healthcare are particularly susceptible to using one-size-fits-all training approaches, where 50% and 40%, respectively, report no personalisation whatsoever. Tailoring addresses the specific needs and risks of different roles and sectors, leading to more effective security awareness.
  • Widespread BYOD usage: A large percentage of employees (between 41% and 80%) use their personal devices for work. This BYOD (bring your own device) trend introduces security risks because personal devices may not have adequate security measures. This can make organisations more vulnerable to breaches.
  • AI policy development is lagging: Many organisations (46%) are still in the process of developing policies for using AI tools in the workplace. Without clear guidelines, employees might use AI in ways that create security vulnerabilities for their organisations. Establishing clear AI governance is crucial to mitigate these risks.
  • Regional variation: Southern Africa trains more, East Africa governs AI better, and West/Central Africa sees the most human-related security incidents.

“This report reveals a critical paradox in African cybersecurity: while organisations feel aware and prepared, significant blind spots remain, especially concerning how they manage human risk,” Collard notes. “The continent’s cybersecurity posture may be more confident than it is truly resilient.”

The report concludes with a roadmap for turning awareness into action – including role-specific training, measurable outcomes, AI policy development and better reporting structures.

The full report is now available for download here (https://apo-opa.co/45TKgqm).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KnowBe4.

Contact details:
Anne Dolinschek
KnowBe4
anned@knowbe4.com

TJ Coenraad
Red Ribbon
tayla@redribboncommunications.co.za

About KnowBe4:
KnowBe4 empowers workforces to make smarter security decisions every day. Trusted by over 70,000 organisations worldwide, KnowBe4 helps to strengthen security culture and manage human risk. KnowBe4 offers a comprehensive AI-driven ‘best-of-suite’ platform for Human Risk Management, creating an adaptive defense layer that fortifies user behaviour against the latest cybersecurity threats. The HRM+ platform includes modules for awareness & compliance training, cloud email security, real-time coaching, crowdsourced anti-phishing, AI Defense Agents, and more. As the only global security platform of its kind, KnowBe4 utilises personalised and relevant cybersecurity protection content, tools and techniques to mobilise workforces to transform from the largest attack surface to an organisation’s biggest asset.

Media files

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Uganda: Ambassador Zhang Lizhong attended the Presidential Commissioning of Busia Gold Mine Project

Source: APO


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On August 16th, Ambassador Zhang Lizhong was invited to attend the commissioning of Busia Gold Mine Project and the “Painting My Heart, Caring for Africa” Competition in Uganda and delivered a speech. Ugandan President H.E. Museveni, Minister of Energy and Mining Development Hon. Ruth, as well as representatives of Liaoning Hongda Group were also in attendance.

Ambassador Zhang stated that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of two countries, the China-Uganda comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to develop, creating favorable conditions for investment and trade cooperation between both enterprises. Bilateral trade saw significant growth in the first half of this year, and practical cooperation yielded fruitful results. The Chinese government supports Chinese companies in expanding investment and cooperation in Uganda, applying advanced technologies, operating in compliance with laws and regulations, and actively fulfilling their social responsibilities.

Museveni commenced Chinese companies for their positive contributions to Uganda’s mining development, providing a large number of job opportunities for local people, and driving Uganda’s technological progress and mineral value-added. He welcomed more Chinese companies to do business in Uganda and promote greater development of cooperation between the two countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Uganda.

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Egypt: President El-Sisi Meets Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

Source: APO – Report:

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The meeting was attended by Head of the General Intelligence Services Major General Hassan Rashad and Head of Qatar’s State Security Khalfan bin Ali bin Khalfan Al Kaabi.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the Qatari prime minister conveyed to the President the greetings of the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, stressing the Qatari leadership’s keenness to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various fields, based on the importance the Qatari government accords to consolidating relations between the two countries, particularly supporting joint investment projects, so as to fulfill the aspirations of the two peoples. President El-Sisi expressed his deep appreciation to His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, stressing the shared will to advance bilateral relations to broader horizons, in line with the aspirations of the two peoples, and in keeping pace with current regional and international challenges.

Both sides affirmed the utmost importance that both Egypt and Qatar attach to their ongoing efforts, in coordination with the United States, to reach an agreement that guarantees an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, allows the urgent and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid, and secures the release of hostages and captives. This is while confirming the categorical rejection of the military reoccupation of the Strip and any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land. The President and the Prime Minister of Qatar stressed that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, represents the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, President El-Sisi confirmed the need to immediately begin the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire is achieved, and to prepare for the Cairo international reconstruction conference, in cooperation with the Palestinian government and the United Nations.

Views were aligned on the importance of intensifying joint efforts to find political and peaceful solutions to the crises facing a number of countries in the region. Both sides confirmed the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of those countries and the need to continue consultation and coordination between Egypt and Qatar to serve common interests and enhance regional security and stability.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

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Egypt: President El-Sisi Meets Bahrain’s National Security Advisor and Special Force Commander

Source: APO – Report:

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with National Security Advisor and Royal Guard Commander in the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Special Force Commander, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad and Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad conveyed to the President the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who lauded the profound relations between the two countries. They stressed the importance of fostering closer bilateral cooperation in various fields and acknowledged President El-Sisi’s efforts in reinforcing regional security and stability.

President El-Sisi welcomed Egypt’s distinguished guests, expressing Egypt’s huge appreciation for the policies and efforts of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The President underscored Egypt’s keenness on furthering coordination and joint cooperation with Bahrain in all domains, reflecting the robust historical relations between the two countries and serving the interests and aspirations of the two peoples, particularly in light of the formidable challenges facing the region.

The meeting reviewed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, developments in the Gaza Strip, and Egypt’s efforts in coordination with Qatar and the United States to achieve calm and a ceasefire. During the meeting, the need to expedite the unfettered entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip was confirmed, while categorically rejecting the displacement of the Palestinians. They also emphasized the crucial necessity of containing tensions in a number of countries in the region so as to preserve regional security and stability.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.