TPLF seeks African Union intervention as EU warns of northern Ethiopia clashes
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on Saturday called for an African Union-led dialogue to resolve “outstanding issues” with the Ethiopian government, as the European Union warned of “military confrontations and clashes” in the country’s north. In a letter addressed to African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael said the group remains committed to the Pretoria Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA). The group urged the African Union to generate the “necessary momentum” to move beyond what it described as a “current impasse.”The European Union reiterated that the November 2022 agreement must serve as the framework for dispute resolution. Government drone strikes on Tigray; TPLF media says it hit food trucksReuters reported that one person has been killed and another injured in drone strikes in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. TPLF-affiliated news outlet Dimtsi Weyane posted pictures on Facebook that it said showed the trucks damaged in the strikes.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 20:39 UTC
The Great Pivot: Somalia’s UAE Rupture and the Pursuit of a New Regional Order
Somalia’s decision to dismantle its long-standing agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marks a seismic shift in the Horn of Africa’s diplomatic landscape. Somalia’s fragile federal system grants significant autonomy to regional states like Puntland and Jubaland, while Somaliland maintains a stance of total independence. Opening a second front against regional administrations would risk a total fracture of the state along clan lines. In 2018, UAE officials claimed their arrangements in Berbera carried the “blessing” of the Somali federal government. For an Israeli administration facing domestic turmoil and regional isolation, a foothold in the Horn of Africa offers a strategic diversion.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 19:03 UTC
South Sudan army and SPLA-IO trade claims over territory as humanitarian crisis deepens in Jonglei
South Sudan government and opposition forces have issued contradictory claims over the control of strategic territories in Jonglei State, as humanitarian organizations warned that nearly 400,000 civilians are at risk due to blocked aid and escalating violence. The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) Deputy Spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, announced in a Facebook video on Saturday that the national army had recaptured areas previously controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) and the White Army militia. “The conflict is fundamentally between the government and the SPLA-IO, not civilians,” Olony said, adding that no single community could rule South Sudan on the basis of tribal identity. Humanitarian situation defoliate in South SudanThe humanitarian situation has deteriorated alongside the fighting. Adham Effendi, WFP’s Acting Country Director in South Sudan, warned that 60 percent of Jonglei’s population is projected to experience crisis-level hunger during the upcoming lean season.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 18:53 UTC
Gold prices fall sharply in Egypt as global markets retreat from record highs
Gold prices in the Egyptian market fell sharply on Saturday as global rates retreated from record highs following the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next US Federal Reserve Chair. Earlier in the week, global gold had hit an all-time high of $5,602 per ounce. Despite the late-month sell-off, global gold recorded monthly gains of 13.4% for January. Embaby noted that local gold had previously been priced between EGP 300 and EGP 500 above global rates. He stated that local prices must now match global levels, noting the current gap stands at approximately EGP 230.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 18:34 UTC
Middle East Green Initiative backs land restoration, $12 bln pledged to fight desertification
Egypt’s acting environment minister Manal Awad said on Saturday that the ministerial declaration issued after the second meeting of the Middle East Green Initiative’s ministerial council reaffirmed member states’ commitment to strengthen regional cooperation to combat land degradation, halt desertification and boost resilience to drought. Awad said the meeting, chaired by Saudi Environment Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli in Jeddah, brought together council members from 30 countries. She also highlighted an announcement by the Arab Coordination Group pledging $12 billion by 2030 to support global projects aimed at restoring degraded lands and strengthening resilience to drought and desertification. The declaration stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation with regional and international organisations, as well as the key role of the private sector, financial institutions and civil society in addressing land degradation and drought challenges, Awad said. The declaration also approved rotating the council’s presidency among regional member states in Africa and Asia starting in 2027, and welcomed Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Syria as new regional members of the initiative.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 18:34 UTC
Egypt’s Finance Ministry seeks to align international aid with fiscal reform priorities
Egypt is seeking to align international development support with state fiscal reform priorities to maximise the effectiveness of technical and financial aid, Deputy Finance Minister for Fiscal Policy Yasser Sobhi said on Saturday. Participants at the meeting discussed the outcomes of cooperation with international financial institutions between 2023 and 2025 and established objectives for the upcoming year to avoid the duplication of activities. Sobhi explained that the ministry’s future priorities include expanding digital transformation and the use of Artificial Intelligence in public financial management to improve data-driven decision-making and sustainability. The ministry is also working to complete the implementation of gender and climate-responsive budgeting, internal auditing, and government procurement reforms. Sobhi concluded by emphasising the importance of enhancing communication with citizens through simplified fiscal reporting to ensure transparency regarding the state’s financial objectives.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 18:34 UTC
Egypt and Rwanda agree executive action plan for water management projects
Egypt and Rwanda have signed an executive action plan to activate a bilateral memorandum of understanding on water resources management and irrigation, Egypt’s water ministry said on Saturday. The agreement was finalised during an official visit by Egyptian Water Resources Minister Hani Sewilam to Kigali, where he and Rwanda’s Environment Minister Bernadette Arakwu attended the closing session of the joint steering committee meetings for the Water Resources Management and Irrigation Project. The plan includes development projects designed to address Rwanda’s water needs, such as the drilling of wells and the construction of rainwater-harvesting dams to provide clean drinking water for communities and livestock. During the visit, Sewilam and Arakwu toured the Nyandungu Eco-Park in Kigali. Arakwu highlighted Rwanda’s efforts to promote sustainable urban models that balance development and environmental protection.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 18:34 UTC
The Grand Barter: Accounting Ambition vs. Strategic Stability - Dailynewsegypt
However, at its core, this proposal raises fundamental questions that go to the heart of economic national security and the very independence of the Central Bank. Furthermore, the Suez Canal is a sovereign entity governed by a unique set of laws. Any disruption in global shipping would directly impact the bank’s financial position, potentially undermining the currency’s strength during international crises. Traditionally, a central bank’s assets should remain in gold, cash, and readily marketable international securities rather than fixed infrastructure that cannot be easily liquidated. Protecting the Suez Canal and the Central Bank requires each to remain on its own independent track.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 17:11 UTC
Egypt’s FM hosts African Union representatives to discuss trade corridors and regional stability
Egypt hosts African Union representatives to discuss trade corridors and regional stability as Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed Cairo’s commitment to the African Union’s founding principles of state sovereignty and non-interference on Saturday. During the meeting with representatives of AU organisations and offices, Abdelatty stated that Egypt, as a founding member of the AU, prioritises joint action to consolidate peace, security, and development across the continent. He noted that these principles represent a fundamental pillar of Egyptian foreign policy within bilateral, regional, and international frameworks. Furthermore, the minister highlighted Egypt’s support for African solutions to African problems and the preservation of national institutions. Addressing the political and security challenges facing the continent, the minister urged AU offices to play an active role in conflict prevention and the peaceful resolution of crises.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 17:11 UTC
Egyptian bank assets climb to EGP 24.8trn as household deposits lead growth
Banks’ balances with one another domestically totalled around EGP 2.825trn, while their balances with banks abroad reached around EGP 1.594trn. Non-government deposits amounted to EGP 12.156trn, including around EGP 8.971trn in local currency and the equivalent of around EGP 3.184trn in foreign currencies. The report noted that the public business sector accounted for around EGP 158.696bn of total non-government deposits in local currency, while the private business sector’s share was EGP 1.484trn, the household sector EGP 7.277trn, and non-residents EGP 51.026bn. Meanwhile, in foreign-currency non-government deposits, the public business sector accounted for the equivalent of EGP 197.014bn, the private business sector the equivalent of EGP 1.020trn, the household sector the equivalent of EGP 1.852trn, and non-residents the equivalent of EGP 115.110bn. It said this increase was driven by a rise in net foreign assets at banks equivalent to EGP 110.9bn, and at the central bank equivalent to EGP 17.6bn.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 17:11 UTC
Climate Change Could Add Over 120 Million Malaria Cases in Africa by 2050, Study Warns
Researchers combined climate information with health, socioeconomic and malaria control records to assess how the disease may evolve under future warming scenarios. The findings suggest that climate change could result in 123 million additional malaria cases between 2024 and 2050, along with more than 530,000 extra deaths, if malaria control efforts remain at today’s levels. Instead, climate change will mainly worsen malaria risk in high-burden regions. The study warns that climate change could undermine these gains and make global eradication targets far harder to reach by mid-century. The study concludes that climate change is no longer a distant future threat.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 17:07 UTC
Egypt’s Madbouly inspects 430-bed university hospital and $41m industrial projects in Minya tour
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly inspected the trial operation of the 430-bed Triple University Hospital in Minya on Saturday, as part of a wider tour of industrial, housing, and infrastructure projects in the governorate. Minya University President Essam el-Din Farhat said the governorate’s university hospitals currently provide 2 million medical services annually across 1,700 beds. He added that ongoing projects, including the Triple University Hospital and specialised units for ophthalmology, oncology, and paediatrics, will add a further 1,050 beds to the regional healthcare system. The Prime Minister also inspected the United Company for Drying Agricultural Crops, where total investment has reached $41m following the addition of an $11m production line. Regarding housing, Madbouly distributed contracts for the first phase of a 508m EGP residential project in the South Minya district.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 16:44 UTC
ETA reviews tax system evolution and its role in driving investment
The Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) recently participated in the annual tax conference hosted by Ernst & Young (EY) Egypt, a forum dedicated to exploring the latest shifts in tax policy. Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the ETA, underscored the vital importance of engaging in specialised dialogues that unite tax authorities with the broader business community. Such platforms are essential for strengthening communication channels and showcasing state-led initiatives to refine the investment climate. Ragab Mahrous, Advisor to the Head of the ETA, detailed the second package of tax facilitation measures, which rests on the dual pillars of procedural enhancements and legislative amendments. Furthermore, Mahrous confirmed that new legislation would permit recent tax periods to utilise the lump-sum tax system established under Law No.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 16:36 UTC
Egypt’s Sports Minister attends FISU executive meetings in China to discuss global expansion
Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Ashraf Sobhy, has participated in the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings in China to discuss the strategic expansion of global university sports. The meetings focused on enhancing cooperation between continental and international federations and reviewing preparations for upcoming university sports championships and events, according to the ministry. Sobhy said Egypt’s active participation in the FISU meetings reflects the “advanced position” the country holds on the international sporting stage. The Egyptian government prioritises cooperation with international sports institutions and the exchange of expertise to implement global best practices in managing university sports, the minister added. As President of the African University Sports Federation, Sobhy presented a vision for the continent’s sporting development.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 16:32 UTC
Egyptian-Greek partnership targets European markets through new handicrafts deal
Egypt and Greece have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in creative industries and handicrafts, aiming to facilitate the access of Egyptian products to European markets through Greece. The agreement, signed between the International Creative Academy (ICA) of Egypt and the Foundation of the Hellenic World, seeks to support joint production of competitive handicraft products. The MoU was signed by Hany Barakat, President of the ICA, and Sophia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou, Executive Vice President of the Foundation of the Hellenic World. “The MoU represents an important step toward strengthening Egyptian-Greek economic cooperation in the high value-added creative and handicraft sectors,” El-Sherif said. The framework outlines several areas of joint cooperation, including the organisation of exhibitions, trade events, and joint creative workshops.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 31, 2026 16:31 UTC