
Egypt welcomes coordination with South Africa under its G20 presidency to advance GFS reform
During a bilateral meeting held on Sunday, July 27, 2025, between the minister of planning and South Africa's Minister in Presidency Responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Lydia Ramokgopa to enhance bilateral cooperation and align visions on regional and international development issues – held on the sidelines of Egypt's participation in the G20 Development Ministers' Meetings hosted and chaired by South Africa in July – Mashat voiced sincere appreciation to the government and people of South Africa for inviting Egypt to participate in the G20 meetings, noting that Egypt has actively participated in G20 discussions over the past five years, reflecting its influential role in global development efforts.
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Daily News Egypt
4 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
France Proposes Law to Accelerate Return of Colonial-Era Looted Artefacts to Africa
In a significant step toward addressing the legacy of colonial-era injustice, the French government has unveiled a new draft law that would dramatically accelerate the return of cultural artefacts looted from former colonies, especially in Africa. The bill—presented by the Ministry of Culture—aims to simplify the restitution process by removing existing bureaucratic hurdles and creating a clearer legal framework that allows for faster, more transparent repatriation of looted objects. The proposed law marks a pivotal shift in France's policy toward its colonial-era collections, many of which were amassed through acts of violence, coercion, or unequal power dynamics during periods of imperial rule. If passed, the legislation would end the requirement that each restitution be approved through separate parliamentary legislation—a time-consuming process that has slowed down the return of many contested pieces. Instead, decisions would be made via executive decree issued by the Council of State, France's highest administrative court, following a recommendation from a newly established scientific commission. This independent commission will include historians, curators, and legal experts from both France and the country making the restitution claim. The commission will be responsible for investigating the provenance of contested items and determining whether their acquisition violated ethical or legal norms, such as being taken under duress or through theft. Importantly, the draft law introduces a limited exception to France's longstanding principle of inaliénabilité (inalienability), which holds that objects in the national collections cannot be removed or sold. The law would allow such objects to be restituted if it is determined that they were acquired through illegal or unethical means between the years 1815 and 1972. These dates are not arbitrary. The year 1815 marks the beginning of early European discussions on the return of artworks looted during the Napoleonic wars, while 1972 is the year when UNESCO's Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property came into force, providing a formal international framework against the illicit trade in cultural goods. The law comes in response to increasing international pressure and growing calls for European countries to return artefacts taken during colonial rule. France in particular has faced mounting criticism, with many African governments, academics, and civil society groups urging Paris to fulfill long-standing promises of restitution. President Emmanuel Macron first signaled a new direction in French policy during a landmark speech in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in 2017, where he declared that 'African heritage cannot be the prisoner of European museums.' In the years since, France has returned 26 artefacts to Benin and handed over items to Senegal, marking a symbolic yet limited start to broader restitution efforts. If enacted, the new legislation could open the door to the return of thousands of artefacts currently held in French institutions, including the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, which houses one of the largest collections of African art in Europe. Beyond the legal mechanisms, the proposed bill also reflects a deeper acknowledgment of the need to rebuild trust and cultural partnership between France and its former colonies. It signals a readiness to confront uncomfortable aspects of colonial history and to promote a more equitable framework for cultural exchange and heritage preservation. As debates over cultural restitution gain momentum across Europe, France's draft law could set a precedent for other countries grappling with the legacy of empire. Observers say that if implemented effectively and transparently, the legislation could become a model for responsible restitution in the 21st century.


Al-Ahram Weekly
5 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Moroccan embassy in Cairo marks National Day with celebration of bilateral ties - City Lights - Life & Style
The Moroccan embassy in Cairo marked the 26th anniversary of Throne Day on 30 July with an event attended by Egypt's culture minister, Ahmed Fouad Hanno, along with officials, diplomats, academics and artists. In a speech during the event, Morocco's ambassador to Egypt, Mohamed Ait Ouali, described Throne Day as more than a national holiday. 'I am filled with joy and pleasure as I stand among you in this joyous forum, to share the celebration of a dear and precious memory to the hearts of all Moroccans, which is the anniversary of the glorious Throne Day, marking its twenty-sixth year,' Ait Ouali said. 'This national occasion transcends, in its connotations, merely celebrating a historical event, to embody deep dimensions of cohesion, loyalty, and gratitude, and affirms the bonds that unite the Alawi Throne and the Moroccan people.' Moroccan ambassador Mohamed Ait Ouali with Ismail Abdel-Ghaffar Farag, President of the AASTAT 'It is a day of renewing allegiance and loyalty to King Mohammed VI, who unites all components of the Moroccan people, from north to south, and from east to west,' he added. Since taking the throne in 1999, King Mohammed VI has pushed a wide range of political and economic reforms, the ambassador said, pointing to institutional modernization, infrastructure development, and foreign policy shifts—particularly Morocco's focus on Africa—as markers of his reign. 'King Mohammed VI inaugurated a new era characterized by openness and democracy, strengthening the state of institutions and law, and a firm commitment to social justice and active citizenship,' Ait Ouali stressed. Ait Ouali said Morocco has signed nearly 1,000 agreements with African countries under King Mohammed's leadership and has reoriented its diplomacy toward the continent. The foreign ministry's renaming to include African Cooperation reflects that shift. One recent initiative, launched in November 2023, aims to provide Sahel countries with alternatives to foreign military entanglement through regional partnerships. The ambassador also highlighted Morocco's growing profile internationally, describing it as a 'strategic actor' and a 'model for sustainable development'. Lawyer Rita Badr Eddin and Moroccan singer Samira Said attending the national day celebration The event was also attended by Ismail Abdel-Ghaffar Farag, head of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, who spoke about educational cooperation with Moroccan institutions and the importance of regional academic exchange. Guests included singer Samira Said and lawyer Rita Badr Eddin. While the ceremony focused largely on Morocco's domestic progress and regional partnerships, it also served as a quiet affirmation of close ties with Egypt, which have remained steady in recent years despite wider regional tensions. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:


See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Kenyan Delegation Visits CBE to Learn about Leading Cybersecurity Practices
Taarek Refaat The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) hosted a high-level delegation from the Central Bank of Kenya for an official three-day visit to explore Egypt's cybersecurity practices. The delegation focused on learning from Egypt's Cybersecurity Operations Center (EG-FinCIRT), a regional leader in cybersecurity within the financial sector, serving as a model for both Africa and the Middle East. The Kenyan delegation, composed of five specialists from the Banking Sector Cybersecurity Operations Center (BS-SOC), aimed to exchange knowledge and experiences regarding cybersecurity, with a particular focus on EG-FinCIRT, which has been at the forefront of safeguarding the financial sector against cyber threats. Sherif Hazem, Deputy Governor for Cybersecurity commented that the continued interest from African central banks in Egypt's cybersecurity capabilities reflects the leading role Egypt has come to occupy in addressing the growing global cybersecurity threats. "This ongoing exchange supports Egypt's commitment to leveraging the latest technologies and expanding their application to protect national and regional financial systems," Dr. Hazem added. Similarly, Ibrahim Mustafa, Assistant Deputy Governor and Head of EG-FinCIRT, emphasized the pivotal role of the Center in enhancing regional cybersecurity strategies. "EG-FinCIRT not only protects the financial sector, but it also plays a crucial role in coordinating with regional and international response teams to tackle the rising incidence of cyber-attacks threatening economies around the world." During their visit, the Kenyan delegation was briefed on cyber threat detection strategies, security breach mechanisms, and compliance frameworks for financial institutions, especially within fintech. They also discussed the best global cybersecurity standards for financial institutions and the approval mechanisms for fintech applications. The Kenyan delegation expressed a keen interest in learning from Egypt's experience in developing and implementing a national cybersecurity strategy. The visit comes at a time when Kenya is in the process of establishing an integrated cybersecurity system, inspired by Egypt's own model. The Central Bank of Kenya is working to create a specialized cybersecurity incident response center and regularly update its regulatory framework to enhance cyber resilience in the financial sector. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results