Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins will travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, from August 26-27 and to Nairobi, Kenya, from August 28-29, 2024.

Under Secretary Jenkins will travel to Hanoi to lead the U.S. delegation for the annual U.S.-Vietnam Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue and discuss progress in the bilateral relationship as we prepare to celebrate the first year of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.  In addition to her meetings with Vietnamese government officials, she will also participate in roundtable discussions with non-government organizations implementing the removal of unexploded ordnance and discuss the role of women in international security with students.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Department of State.

The Republic of Guinea-Bissau has conveyed to Morocco its endorsement of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) following its attendance at the PSI African Political Meeting and Outreach Event, co-hosted by Morocco and the United States January 31-February 2, 2024, in Marrakesh, Morocco. The United States welcomes Guinea-Bissau’s endorsement and participation in the Initiative and looks forward to working with the Government of Guinea-Bissau to advance the counterproliferation goals of the PSI and its Statement of Interdiction Principles. Guinea-Bissau is the 114th state to endorse the PSI.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Department of State.

The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) Board of Directors convened, headed by H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and Chairperson of TSFE’s Board of Directors, for the 1st time after the appointment of the new government.

This took place at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital and included the presence of Board of Directors members’: Counselor Mohamed Aba Zeid, Walid Gamal El-Din, Sherine El-Sharkawy, Nidal Assar, Mohamed Abbas Fayed, Eng. Tarek Tawfik, and Eng. Yehia Zaki. The meeting was also attended by Lobna Helal via video conference, and by CEO of TSFE Ayman Soliman and the fund’s Chief Financial Officer Fadi Anwar.

During the meeting, Al-Mashat and the members of the Board of Directors extended their sincere thanks to Dr. Hala Elsaid, Economic Advisor to the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and former Minister of Planning and Economic Development, for her efforts throughout the past period to manage the fund; one of the main tools through which the Government of Egypt seeks to empower the private sector.

The Board of Directors also discussed TSFE’s independent and consolidated financial statements and the Central Auditing Organization report. They also approved the ratification of the budget in preparation for presenting it to the fund’s General Assembly headed by the Prime Minister.

The Board of Directors was also informed of Ayman Soliman’s resignation, the fund’s CEO; submitted on 4/6/2024. The Board thanked him for his efforts, and agreed to name Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer Noha Khalil as acting CEO to manage the fund’s work, until the procedures for appointing the new CEO is complete.

The Board of Directors also emphasized the need to increase efforts in attracting foreign investments and move forward in implementing the State Ownership Policy Document, by expanding partnerships with the private sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning and Economic Development – Egypt.

The United States welcomes the resumption of humanitarian assistance deliveries through the Adré border crossing from Chad into Sudan and related diplomatic efforts to reopen emergency aid deliveries to famine-stricken portions of Darfur via the Dabbah Road from Port Sudan. The woeful lack of humanitarian aid access into Darfur over the past six months has exacerbated the historic levels of famine and acute hunger across Sudan, particularly within Zamzam camp.

This breakthrough in aid delivery builds on the momentum made during talks this month in Switzerland with the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group, which includes the United States, Switzerland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the African Union, and the UN. The ALPS Group carried out intense in-person, proximity, and virtual talks with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces to increase access to lifesaving humanitarian assistance for millions of Sudanese. Through this effort, the United States and its partners secured the first guarantees from the warring parties for safe, unhindered access through the Adré crossing and the Dabbah Road, which could allow aid deliveries to nearly one million people already facing starvation. We remain in active negotiations to ensure humanitarian access from Port Sudan to the south of Sudan, including al-Jazira State and Sennar State.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Department of State.