Egypt’s Bet on Deeper Partnership with Chad: Badr Abdel-Aty Calls on President Déby in N’Djamena

Al-Sharq Al-Awsat – Sudanhorizon
The outcomes of the fourth session of the joint Egyptian-Chadian committee, held on Thursday, which resulted in agreements on several partnerships and memoranda of understanding, were described by the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat as an Egyptian bet on deepening Cairo’s partnership with N’Djamena in various fields. This comes in parallel with intensifying political coordination between the two countries to contain the crises in neighboring countries.
Cairo views Chad as a strategic partner and a pivotal state in the Central African and Sahel region, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty. During the Egyptian-Chadian Business Forum held in N’Djamena, he indicated his country’s commitment to “building a long-term development partnership with Chad, based on investment, production, knowledge transfer, and capacity building.”
Egyptian diplomats believe that the strategic partnership between Egypt and Chad “represents a crucial pillar for addressing regional crises, particularly in Sudan and Libya, given the security and humanitarian challenges these crises pose to both countries.”
They emphasize that Cairo “views N’Djamena as one of its key partners in the Sahel and Central Africa, both in strengthening security cooperation and expanding economic partnerships.”
Egypt’s commitment to enhancing its cooperation and partnership with Chad was evident during a visit by a high-level Egyptian delegation to the capital, N’Djamena, on Thursday. The delegation included ministers, officials, representatives of chambers of commerce and business associations, as well as representatives from the private sector of both countries, and participated in the fourth session of the Joint Committee and the Business Forum between the two nations.
As part of the visit, the Egyptian Foreign Minister delivered a written message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to his Chadian counterpart, Mohamed Idriss Déby, affirming his country’s commitment to continued coordination with Chad on regional and international issues of mutual interest. The message also addressed ways to develop bilateral relations and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
On Friday, the Chadian President received the Egyptian ministerial delegation, which included the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health, Transport, and Higher Education. He praised the deep-rooted relations between his country and Egypt, as well as the fruitful cooperation in various fields.
Regional issues, particularly the situation in the Sahel and Sahara region and developments in Sudan, were among the topics discussed by the Chadian President and the Egyptian ministerial delegation.
According to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, both sides agreed to intensify coordination and consultation to establish the foundations for peace, security, and stability in the region.
Chad occupies a significant position in the regional security equations of the Sahel and Central Africa, according to former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister, Ambassador Youssef El-Sharkawy. He stated that “the Egyptian partnership with N’Djamena is linked to issues that directly affect the national security of both countries, including the crises in Libya and Sudan, and the security situation in the Lake Chad region.”
In statements to Asharq Al-Awsat, he added that Cairo is counting on strengthening its cooperation with N’Djamena to contain the repercussions of the war in Sudan, given that both countries host large numbers of Sudanese refugees and share a common goal of ending the conflict and mitigating its humanitarian cost.
He pointed to “a convergence of views between Egypt and Chad regarding dealing with security challenges and political tensions in their regional environment, particularly those stemming from the Libyan crisis and the spread of terrorist organizations in the Sahel region.”
The importance of cooperation between Cairo and N’Djamena stems from “the exchange of political and security information and the unification of positions within the African Union and the United Nations regarding the crises in their immediate neighboring countries,” according to El-Sharkawy, who explained that “the issue of terrorist organizations in the Sahel region is among the matters of coordination between the two countries.”
Ambassador Salah Halima, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, believes that cooperation between Egypt and Chad remains crucial regarding the Sudanese issue, given N’Djamena’s relationship with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He argues that Chad can therefore be relied upon to play a significant role in resolving the Sudanese crisis. He also notes that Chad maintains good relations with the authorities in eastern Libya, which further strengthens its influence in this matter.
In statements to Asharq Al-Awsat, Halima asserts that Cairo views N’Djamena as a vital economic gateway to Central Africa, the Sahel, and the Sahara. He points to Egypt’s interest in the regional connectivity project linking it to Libya and Chad via a shared land route, recognizing its potential to boost trade and investment and bolster economic integration among the three nations.
During the “Egyptian-Chadian Business Forum”, Abdel-Aati stressed his country’s hope to increase investments and trade exchange and establish joint projects, especially in the fields of agriculture, livestock, renewable energy, health, education, irrigation, logistics, and digital transformation.
He emphasized the “strategic importance of the land route project linking Egypt, Libya, and Chad, in addition to enhancing air connectivity and logistics services, as projects that contribute to supporting economic integration within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

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