Egypt's top capitalists offer a hand of friendship to Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty delivered a letter from President El-Sisi to Burkina Faso's President Ibrahim Traoré.
The message emphasized Egypt's commitment to fostering peace, security, and bilateral relations within Africa.
Abdelatty's visit aimed to enhance economic ties, focusing on private sector collaboration between Egypt and Burkina Faso.
Contents of the letter emphasized Egypt's resolve to advance peace and security throughout the African continent by deepening bilateral relations and expanding collaboration with Burkina Faso in strategic areas.
The North African country is eager to strengthen trade, investment, and economic ties, Abdelatty said in remarks made during his visit.
He mentioned that fostering collaborations between the private sectors of the two countries was one of the main goals of his visit.
Abdelatty was accompanied by a high-level delegation of 30 businesspeople and senior executives from some of Egypt's most prominent public and private companies, as seen on the Middle East Monitor.
These stakeholders work in essential industries such as construction, energy, agriculture, medicines, and textiles.
The foreign minister reiterated their willingness to support Burkina Faso's development goals under President Traoré's leadership.
The delegation's engagement not only represents Egypt's increasing diplomatic involvement with West Africa, but it also positions Egyptian businesses to participate in the development of important infrastructural and industrial sectors in Burkina Faso.
Abdelatty's trip to Ouagadougou is part of a larger five-nation West African tour that covers Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Senegal, MedaAfrica notes.
Egypt's regional outreach demonstrates its determination to reinvigorate strategic relationships and provide creative solutions to Africa's critical development and security concerns.
In addition to economic discussions, Abdelatty thanked the Burkinabé government for supporting Dr. Khaled El-Anany, Egypt and Africa's candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Business Insider
7 hours ago
- Business Insider
Ghana steps into Middle East politics with Pro-Palestine aid
In a bold diplomatic gesture, Ghana has waded into the complex politics of the Middle East by dispatching 40 metric tonnes of cocoa-based relief aid to the people of Palestine. Ghana dispatched 40 metric tonnes of cocoa-based relief supplies to Palestine as a diplomatic gesture. President Mahama emphasized the gesture as a symbol of solidarity and practical support for affected Palestinian families. The donation was accepted by the Palestinian Ambassador and aims to alleviate hunger and food insecurity in Gaza. The donation, spearheaded by President John Dramani Mahama, marks a rare and symbolic show of African solidarity in a conflict where most nations on the continent have historically maintained a cautious or neutral stance. The donations which include chocolate and other locally produced items were provided under the renowned Golden Tree brand and the country's rich cocoa industry President Mahama described the gesture as both a symbol of solidarity and a means of practical support for Palestinian families affected by the ongoing conflict. 'This donation emphasizes Ghana's commitment to global peace and compassion, ' Mahama said, adding that Cocoa, being one of Ghana's most valuable natural resources, represents resilience, generosity, and economic livelihood for millions of Ghanaian farmers. The president added that Ghana's position on the conflict remains rooted in international law, reiterating support for a negotiated two-state solution. ' Ghana supports a peaceful, negotiated two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, in line with international law and United Nations resolutions,' he said. The donation follows Ghana's recall of its ambassador to Israel in response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. Although Ghana maintains diplomatic ties with both sides and recognizes the Palestinian state, President Mahama appealed to Israeli authorities to open humanitarian corridors into Gaza, allowing critical aid to reach civilians. "The time has come for diplomacy and dialogue—not destruction," Mahama added. Cocoa relief targets displaced in Gaza The Palestinian Ambassador to Ghana, Abdalfatah Ahmed Khalil Alsattari, accepted the donation on behalf of the Palestinian people, extending gratitude to the government and citizens of Ghana. The cocoa-based relief items aim to address hunger and food insecurity among displaced families in Gaza. Hunger in Gaza has reached critical levels, with ongoing conflict and blockades severely limiting access to food, water, and essential supplies. Thousands of families have been displaced, and many now rely entirely on humanitarian aid to survive. Malnutrition rates are rising, particularly among children, as food systems collapse under sustained bombardment and restricted movement. Analysts suggest that this move may signal a growing willingness among African nations to take more defined stances on international conflicts, particularly those raising humanitarian and moral concerns. Mahama thanked all contributors to the initiative, assuring the Palestinian people that " Ghana stands with them in their quest for peace and justice.'

Business Insider
7 hours ago
- Business Insider
Nigerian Immigration issues advisory to citizens travelling to the US
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has issued a formal advisory urging citizens to strictly follow the conditions of their U.S. visas, following concerns by the U.S. government over widespread misuse. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) advised citizens to adhere to U.S. visa conditions to avoid penalties Students studying in the U.S. must maintain full-time academic status to prevent visa cancellation. This advisory aligns Nigeria alongside other African nations in promoting global mobility compliance standards. In a statement, NIS spokesperson ACI Akinlabi said, 'The NIS wishes to inform the general public about the concerns raised by the US government over the misuse of visas by Nigerians.' He warned that violations—such as overstaying or unauthorized activities —could lead to visa revocation, deportation, or permanent travel bans. 'Breach of visa conditions, including overstaying, may attract severe penalties, including removal from the U.S. and permanent ineligibility for future travel,' he said. Akinlabi also advised Nigerian students in the U.S. to maintain full-time academic status: 'Nigerian students in the U.S. must remain in active study. Withdrawal, absenteeism, or change of academic program without notification may lead to visa cancellation and loss of future eligibility.' He further noted that consular officers can deny tourist visas if they suspect the applicant intends to give birth in the U.S.: 'The NIS continues to collaborate with the U.S. Mission in Abuja to ensure Nigeria is not included in any expanded visa restrictions. Compliance with visa regulations is essential to safeguard legitimate travel by Nigerian citizens.' U.S-Nigeria travel advisory As of mid-July 2025, the United States maintains a Level 3 travel advisory for Nigeria, urging citizens to reconsider travel due to persistent threats from crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed gangs, and inadequate healthcare services. In addition to security concerns, the U.S. government has also issued fresh visa-related warnings to Nigerian applicants. On July 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of State revised its visa reciprocity policy, reducing the validity of most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas for Nigerian citizens to three months, single entry. Previously issued visas remain valid under their original terms. Furthermore, in a July 28, 2025 memo, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria warned that travel primarily for childbirth purposes, commonly referred to as birth tourism, is prohibited. Visa applications suspected of being linked to this practice may be denied, with applicants subject to heightened scrutiny and possible penalties for misrepresentation. Together, these measures reflect a broader tightening of U.S. immigration controls targeting both security and immigration integrity concerns. Nigeria's issuance of this advisory brings it in line with 36 other African countries facing potential travel restrictions. Authorities and U.S. missions in these countries have warned against visa fraud, overstays, and misuse of travel privileges.


Indianapolis Star
10 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Trump-backed cane sugar Coke tastes different, but health benefits are a myth
Our favorite soda is being made great again. Or is it? Early in my career, I was puzzled when a lab colleague asked me to bring back a few cans of Coke from my trip home to Brazil. I soon learned that sodas in the United States are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of cane sugar, and that many people miss the original flavor of sugar-sweetened versions. What I've learned about sweeteners since then feels especially relevant now, as Coca-Cola's decision to reintroduce cane sugar into at least one of its American-sold products, allegedly prompted by President Donald Trump's encouragement, has reignited discussion over what goes into our sodas. While sucrose, the chemical name for cane sugar, could be the most common sweetener in our kitchens, many other substances also taste sweet to us. These include glucose, fructose and intensely sweet compounds like saccharin (a synthetic sweetener), steviol glycosides (extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana) and even ultrasweet proteins. One of the most intriguing of those proteins is brazzein, my personal favorite, which was discovered in the West African plant Pentadiplandra brazzeana and is now produced at scale by engineered microbes in large fermentation tanks. Some of these substances are packed with calories, while others are virtually calorie-free. The way our bodies metabolize them varies widely. Coca-Cola's reintroduction of cane sugar in its products line is a big deal, not just because it affects a multibillion dollar market, but also because beverages operate in an intensely competitive market space with razor-thin margins, where even a few extra cents per can carry real weight. Cost, technical advantages and national interests might explain why soda manufacturers switched to corn syrup. The technical advantages to using HFCS versus cane sugar include the level of sweetness. You can pack a lot of sweetness into HFCS because it is more soluble in water than cane sugar, and it is often easier for the industry to manage syrups versus powders. There is also a strategic advantage for the U.S. economy. With the help of tariffs imposed on imported sugar in the late 1970s, adoption of HFCS allowed replacing sugar imports with a U.S.-grown and -produced alternative. This explains why the industry made the switch, but does soda sweetened with HFCS taste the same? And is sugar really any healthier than HFCS? Even though the sweetness level of the final product can be adjusted to be exactly the same, some consumers notice slight differences in taste and mouth feel when HFCS replaces sugar cane in beverages. Some say that the cane sugar version is 'crisper,' or that the HFCS version tastes more 'syrupy,' while others will either not notice the change or quickly get used to it. However, beyond the perception in our mouths, our bodies handle these sugars in different ways. After we swallow products containing sucrose, our body breaks each molecule into one molecule of glucose and one of fructose. Glucose is one of the most important sources of energy for our body, essential for the functioning of our brain, which might explain why we are hardwired to crave sweets so much. Fructose, however, is almost solely metabolized in our livers, and because it isn't as readily consumed as an energy source, it may saturate liver capacities and lead to more fat accumulation. Overconsumption of either of these sugars increases likelihood of obesity and fatty liver disease, ultimately leading to type 2 diabetes and other severe health problems. The bottom line is simple: The potential difference in health impact between cane sugar and HFCS is minor when compared with the well-established risks of excessive consumption of sugar. Both are added sugars that contribute to the growing burden of metabolic disease when consumed in excess. Hopefully, the discussion around corn syrup versus cane sugar won't lead us to lose sight of the importance of reducing overall sugar consumption − perhaps by opting for the diet versions of our favorite sodas, as President Trump has.