The US government offered congratulations on Thursday to the Egyptian government upon assuming the presidency of African Union (AU), calling on Egypt to work together to achieve stability of the African continent, said Robert Palladino, the deputy spokesperson for the US State Department.
Palladino clarified, “During Egypt’s presidency, we expect to continue our work with the AU towards the main issues of common concern, which include expanding economic opportunities, enhancing security, and strengthening democracy and human rights in Africa.”
He also said that the US would cooperate with the AU in 2019 in the field of refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in order to reach durable solutions to the issue of forced displacement in Africa.
The official spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency, Bassam Radi, stated in January that the African countries selected Egypt to preside over the AU during the Assembly of the AU on February 10-11 because of the vital role Egypt plays in the African continent under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
He clarified that Egypt would be a member of the troika of the AU commission, which includes the former, current and upcoming states presiding over the AU.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
