El Sisi meets Merkel, other world leaders during G7 summit: Germany values the strong economic and trade ties with Egypt, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told President Abdel Fattah El Sisi yesterday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, according to an Ittihadiya statement. El Sisi, who is attending the summit as the chair of the African Union, discussed efforts to fight terrorism and illegal immigration, as well as the latest developments in Libya, with the German chancellor.

It was a busy day for El Sisi, who also met with the leaders of Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Burkina Faso to coordinate African positions ahead of the summit, according to a separate Ittihadiya statement. The president also gave a speech, during which he called for a “comprehensive political settlement” to the Libyan crisis, increased involvement of international institutions in upgrading the continent’s digital infrastructure, and further cooperation on gender equality initiatives.