Egypt, Madagascar bolster economic ties during visit by President Randrianirina

CAIRO - 29 July 2026: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met on Wednesday with Malagasy President Michael Randrianirina in New Alamein to boost economic and trade ties and witness the signing of five strategic memorandums of understanding (MoUs).

The encounter marks the first official bilateral visit by a Malagasy president to Egypt since diplomatic relations were established in 1970.

Following an official reception ceremony, guard of honor salute, and a luncheon hosted in honor of the Malagasy delegation, the two leaders held expanded bilateral talks.

Discussions focused on broadening cooperation across key sectors including agriculture, healthcare, transport, infrastructure, renewable energy, water resources, digital transformation, and capacity building.

In a joint press conference, Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's unwavering support for Madagascar during its current transitional phase, emphasizing Cairo's readiness to transfer technical expertise, share its comprehensive development model, and deploy Egyptian private-sector capabilities in Malagasy infrastructure projects.

In 2025, a military transitional government took over from former presidents following widespread protests. The new Malagasy decided to establish a resident diplomatic mission in Egypt, a move that Sisi welcomed. 

For his part, Randrianirina described his visit as a historic milestone in bilateral relations, extending an official invitation to Sisi to visit Madagascar.

He commended Egypt's ongoing structural modernization, its regional leadership through the African Peace and Security Council, its support for Madagascar's transition roadmap, and its humanitarian aid following recent cyclones.

At the conclusion of their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of five MoUs covering political consultations, maritime transport and port development, investment promotion, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, and youth and sports.

The two leaders also agreed to sustain joint coordination on African security and urged unified international action to support African nations facing climate change, noting that both countries are among the most impacted on the continent.