General "Kip" Ward, commander of United States Africa Command, and Theresa Whalen, deputy assistant secretary of defense for U.S. Department of Defense policy in Africa, met February 17 with senior Egyptian leadership in the capital city to discuss the special relationship of Egypt with the developing command.



Discussion with Lieutenant General Samy Enan, chief of staff of the Egyptian armed forces, and senior Egyptian military officials highlighted the close cooperation between the nation and U.S. Africa Command in support of security and other related activities to facilitate a stable and secure environment in Africa. Egypt is actively involved in United Nations and African Union missions on the continent, and has contributed more than 1,000 peacekeepers to the joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed in more than four years of fighting between ethnic African rebels and the Arab-dominated Sudanese government.



Egypt shares significant cultural, social, economic and historical ties with nations in U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility. As such, its existing relationship with U.S. Central Command adds tremendous value to the security activities conducted in the Middle East region. As a complement to this partnership, Egypt's knowledge and insight of African issues directly support a close relationship with AFRICOM in support of the security assistance needs of all Africans.