Egypt received a late invitation from the United States to the US-Africa Leaders Summit scheduled to be held in Washington, DC from 4 to 6 August.
Egypt was formally invited on 8 July, according to a spokesman from the US Embassy in Cairo.
“The reason why Egypt was invited a little late in the game, was that at the time the summit was announced, Egypt was suspended from the [African Union (AU)],” said the embassy spokesman. “Now that Egypt has been readmitted to the membership of the AU, we have issued that invitation.”
It is policy to not invite suspended members of the AU, said the embassy spokesman.
At the time the summit was announced, Egypt and Guinea Bissau were suspended from the AU for unconstitutional changes in power in violation of the AU’s charter, but both were reinstated to the AU on 17 June after holding elections.
The White House describes the summit as the “largest single engagement by any US President with Africa.”
“[The summit] will include approximately 50 African heads of state and government as well as the Chairperson of the African Union, a range of US and African civil society and business leaders, young African leaders, and Members of Congress,” said The White House.
Forums and conferences over the three-day summit will address human rights, conservation, health, business, and a dialogue session with US President Barack Obama.
The Central African Republic, currently in the midst of civil war, is suspended from the AU and was not invited to the summit.
The office of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi could not be reached for comment.
