Egypt and South Africa have taken a significant step towards strengthening their bilateral relationship with the signing of an agreement to establish a Binational Commission, creating a new high-level framework for political, economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries. The agreement was signed in New Alamein on 3 October 2026 by Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriate Affairs, Dr Badr Abdelatty, and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola. The signing followed bilateral political consultations held on the margins of the Alamein-Africa Forum.
The new arrangement is intended to give greater institutional weight to the relationship and provide a mechanism through which the two countries can follow up on areas of common interest. The Binational Commission is expected to be co-chaired at the level of the Deputy President of South Africa and the Prime Minister of Egypt. The development comes at a time when both governments have been seeking to move their relationship beyond established political cooperation and towards a broader strategic and economic partnership.
The agreement establishing the Binational Commission represents an important change in the structure through which Egypt and South Africa manage their bilateral relations. For many years, the two countries have worked through a Joint Commission for Cooperation, which has provided a platform for engagement in political, economic, social, cultural, scientific and technical fields. South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation has described this mechanism as an important instrument in the development of relations between the two countries. The creation of the Binational Commission is therefore not a departure from years of cooperation, but an effort to give that relationship a stronger and more comprehensive framework. The move follows discussions between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in September, when the two leaders discussed the need to further strengthen bilateral relations and raise them towards a strategic partnership.
The signing of the agreement followed political consultations between Foreign Minister Abdelatty and Minister Lamola in New Alamein. The discussions covered bilateral relations as well as a range of strategic and geopolitical issues. The discussions focused on opportunities to expand economic relations, including trade and investment. The two ministers also discussed matters relating to the African agenda and areas where Egypt and South Africa can coordinate their positions. This political coordination has become increasingly important as both countries seek to play prominent roles in African and international affairs.
The establishment of the Binational Commission and the launch of the Joint Business Council form part of a broader effort to strengthen the economic relationship. President El-Sisi, during his meeting with President Ramaphosa on 4 October, welcomed the establishment of the Joint Business Council and stressed the importance of making better use of the capabilities of both countries. President Ramaphosa invited President El-Sisi to make a state visit to South Africa. The Egyptian Presidency said the two sides want to deepen cooperation across political, economic, trade and investment fields while contributing to economic integration on the African continent. For businesses, closer cooperation between Egypt and South Africa could have importance beyond the two national markets. Egypt’s geographical position provides links between Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, while South Africa occupies a major economic and logistical position in southern Africa. Greater cooperation between the two countries could therefore contribute to wider continental trade and connectivity. This fits with the emphasis placed by President El-Sisi and President Ramaphosa on improving trade corridors connecting different parts of Africa.
The signing of the Binational Commission agreement follows a series of developments pointing towards a closer relationship. In September, President El-Sisi said he looked forward to raising Egypt-South Africa relations to the level of a strategic partnership. President Ramaphosa, for his part, expressed South Africa’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Egypt. The establishment of the Binational Commission provides an institutional mechanism through which those ambitions can be pursued.
