Egypt’s al-Sisi calls for ‘bold’ response to countries supporting terrorism
December 11, 2019, 10:02 am

Egypt’s al-Sisi calls for ‘bold’ response to countries supporting terrorism

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaking at the Aswan Forum December 11, 2019. (Screengrab)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi opened the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa on Wednesday by calling for a comprehensive and bold response to countries supporting terrorism.

“Terrorism remains a malignant cancer afflicting African nations undermining states and societies. Therefore, combatting terrorism in a comprehensive manner requires identifying its states and supporters and confronting them collectively and boldly,” said al-Sisi in his opening remarks in Aswan, Egypt.

“We must continue to work together, to turn the page on a painful history of conflicts in Africa, which has negatively affected the continent’s developmental aspirations,” he added.

Al-Sisi also addressed the conflict in Libya, saying that Egypt was the first country to be affected. Libya has been in a state of unrest since the fall of dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, with multiple factions currently fighting in a civil war.

“We will move towards achieving a comprehensive solution in Libya within months,” he added.

Al-Sisi pointed to development as a solution to terrorism, claiming “development is the best shield against conflict.”

African heads of state and officials are attending the Aswan Forum in Egypt to discuss objectives to achieve peace and sustainable development in the continent.

The inaugural meeting of the forum is titled “An Agenda for Sustainable Peace, Security and Development in Africa,” taking place over December 11-12. Following the forum, the African Union Center for Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AUC-PCRD) will be launching in Cairo, according to al-Sisi.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”