The Peace and Security Council of the African Union said in a statement from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the African Summit that it hopes that presidential and parliamentary elections take place in Egypt, but the organization did not go back on its earlier decision to suspend Egypt’s membership in the union.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry is making efforts in a number of African capitals to drum up support for the current government.
Ambassadors in African countries were handed messages from President Adly Mansour explaining the steps taken by Egypt towards implementing the roadmap. The letters also spoke of the newly-ratified constitution.
Analysts claim that South Africa supports Egypt's suspension so it can take the lead in continent.
Ministry spokesperson Badr Abdel Aty said that a delegation from the union came to Egypt twice to monitor the referendum on the constitution.
“We dispatched the Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs to Addis Ababa to present a report on the roadmap,” he said. “No one can claim that we are uncooperative.”
He also said that Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy paid three visits to a number of African capitals and is currently arranging for a fourth one.
“Our relationship with Africa is at its best,” he added.
Mona Omar, former assistant foreign minister for African affairs, said that she hopes the union applies the Lome Charter in good faith.
“The union had lifted the suspension of Mali when the government set dates for presidential and parliamentary elections there,” she said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
