CAIRO — Egypt has recently intensified its discussions with African countries to determine the continent's needs ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27), which it will host in Sharm el-Sheikh in November.

On March 29, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted Eve Masudi, Congo’s deputy prime minister and minister of environment and sustainable development, who conveyed a message from Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi expressing “deep appreciation for the tireless Egyptian efforts led by Sisi to advance the African Union [AU] agenda regarding climate change, with the aim of supporting the joint African position.”

According to an Egyptian presidency statement March 29, Sisi reiterated Egypt’s keenness to coordinate and mobilize the necessary support for the African countries to ensure their urgent adaptation to the negative economic and social effects of climate change in the short, medium and long terms. He also stressed the need to work with all parties on behalf of the African continent to ensure that COP27 produces balanced results that contribute to supporting international efforts to confront climate change, and enhance the ability of developing countries to adapt and access financing.

On March 26, Sisi had also received his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame. Speaking at a joint press conference following their meeting, the Egyptian president stressed his country's keenness to convey the aspirations of the African continent during the COP27, expressing his hope that this summit would produce tangible results that would achieve a qualitative leap for the African continent in the issue of climate change.