ALEXANDRIA: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that efforts must continue to consolidate the Gaza ceasefire and prevent broader regional escalation, after talks held during the inauguration of the new headquarters of Senghor University. The meeting in New Borg El-Arab City combined bilateral discussions with a regional agenda centered on Gaza, Lebanon and wider Middle East tensions, according to the Egyptian presidency’s account of the talks.
El-Sisi welcomed Macron’s visit and said it reflected the strength of ties between Cairo and Paris, which were elevated to a strategic partnership during Macron’s visit to Egypt in April 2025. He said the two countries should deepen cooperation in trade, investment, education, industry and transport. Macron said he was pleased to return to Egypt and described the university as an academic institution that supports scientific and cultural cooperation among francophone member states.
The talks also addressed the broader regional climate, with El-Sisi outlining Egypt’s efforts to contain current tensions and warning against further instability. He said any widening of the crisis would carry consequences for regional and international security and would add pressure on supply chains, trade and transportation. El-Sisi also reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the security and stability of Arab states and rejected any infringement on their sovereignty or on the resources of their peoples, while Macron commended Egypt’s efforts to restore stability.
Gaza ceasefire and aid
On Gaza, El-Sisi said Egypt was working to consolidate the agreement to end the war and to advance the requirements of its second phase. He said priority should be given to ensuring the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave and to starting early recovery and reconstruction. The discussion placed Gaza at the center of the meeting, with both leaders linking progress there to a broader effort to reduce tension across the region and prevent the conflict from spilling into neighboring areas.
El-Sisi also raised concern over what he said was an escalation of violations in the West Bank and said a political process remained the only route to a lasting settlement. He repeated Egypt’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with international legitimacy and the two-state solution. The Egyptian president also expressed appreciation for France’s support for the Palestinian cause.
Lebanon and Mediterranean cooperation
The meeting also reviewed developments in Lebanon, where the two presidents agreed on the need to preserve peace and stability. Their talks extended to cooperation across the Mediterranean, with both sides examining ways to strengthen coordination aimed at shared development and prosperity on both shores. The wider diplomatic setting of the visit included the participation of senior African and francophone officials at the university ceremony, underscoring the educational and regional dimension of Macron’s stop in the coastal area west of Alexandria.
The inauguration itself highlighted another strand of the relationship, with both presidents attending the opening of the new Senghor University headquarters alongside officials from African institutions and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Egyptian officials said the ceremony was followed by exchanges with students on campus after the leaders delivered remarks. The visit brought together bilateral cooperation, regional diplomacy and development issues in a single event, with Gaza ceasefire efforts and the need to contain escalation emerging as the clearest message from the talks. – By Content Syndication Services.