Cairo, Egypt – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received Barham Salih, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, today. This meeting was held to strengthen strategic cooperation between Egypt and the UNHCR in managing asylum and international protection issues.
A firm Egyptian commitment and a humanitarian responsibility
President El-Sisi welcomed the High Commissioner on his first visit since assuming his post at the beginning of this year, expressing Egypt’s pride in its longstanding partnership with the UNHCR. During the meeting, the President emphasized that Egypt hosts more than 10.5 million foreigners, migrants, and refugees within its borders, amidst complex regional and international circumstances. El-Sisi explained that the Egyptian state is committed to providing essential services to these guests to the best of its ability. He also affirmed Egypt’s commitment to upholding national laws and international obligations.
The president emphasized Egypt’s unwavering stance against the politicization of the refugee issue. He affirmed that Egypt has never exploited this issue for political gain. In contrast, Sisi called on the international community to uphold the principle of “burden-sharing” and urged increased international support for Egypt. This support is specifically aimed at bolstering the new national framework the state is developing to address refugee issues more effectively.
A comprehensive vision for addressing crises
President El-Sisi presented a comprehensive Egyptian vision for addressing the phenomenon of asylum and displacement. This vision is based on addressing the root causes of this phenomenon, including political and security crises and economic challenges in the countries of origin. This was done in pursuit of achieving sustainable development and establishing the foundations for regional peace and stability.
UN praises Egypt’s “significant” role
For his part, High Commissioner Barham Salih expressed his deep appreciation for Egypt’s efforts, describing the burdens borne by the country as “enormous.” Salih emphasized that Egypt represents a pivotal and historically steadfast cornerstone in the region. He added that its role in achieving regional stability is no less important than its humanitarian role.
The UN official also commended the practical steps taken by Egypt to launch its new national asylum system and establish the “Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs.” He announced the UNHCR’s full readiness to provide technical support for these efforts. The meeting concluded with both sides emphasizing the importance of future cooperation in implementing the UNHCR’s strategy to reduce the number of refugees globally. They also stressed the need for genuine and effective participation from the international community in sharing the burden of hosting refugees. This burden has become a challenge requiring urgent international solidarity.
