Egypt in February 2026: the most important developments in politics
In February 2026 Egypt's political agenda was led by a new level of relations with Turkey. During a visit to Cairo on 4 February, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi upgraded bilateral relations to a strategic level, signed agreements, and agreed to strengthen defence cooperation and to set a target of $15 billion in annual trade. The two sides also agreed to push for a ceasefire in Sudan and to cooperate on protecting Somalia's sovereignty.
The second theme was Gaza and the wider region. Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt on 1 February, and the EU welcomed the step. Egypt and the United Arab Emirates backed a national committee for Gaza and an international force in the territory. On 23 February Sisi met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, and the two countries called for a Gaza ceasefire and progress on the US-backed peace plan. Egypt supported the US-Iran nuclear talks hosted by Oman and called for compromise. On 28 February Egypt condemned Iranian strikes on Arab countries, warned of regional chaos after US-Iran airstrikes, and said it was consulting Arab and European partners on de-escalation.
Egypt also stated its position on African affairs. Sisi affirmed support for Sudan's stability and territorial integrity in a meeting with Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris on 26 February, and both countries rejected unilateral actions on the Nile and urged Ethiopia to follow international law. Cairo told Somalia's foreign minister that Egypt supports Somalia's unity and rejects unilateral recognition of Somaliland. Egypt and Kenya agreed to strengthen their partnership, including on the Nile Basin.
At home, the House of Representatives approved a Cabinet reshuffle on 10 February. The new Cabinet met for the first time on 12 February under Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and the Ministry of State for Business was abolished. New governors were appointed in Cairo and Alexandria.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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