Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi used the BRICS summit held virtually on September 7–8, 2025, to voice strong criticism of current global governance structures, arguing that they fail to reflect the realities of developing economies.
Sisi stressed that institutions such as the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund require urgent reform to ensure fairer representation of Africa and other emerging markets. He noted that the existing framework often entrenches inequality and limits the ability of developing nations to influence global economic decisions, Al-Ahram reported.
His remarks come as Egypt, which formally joined BRICS in January 2024, seeks to deepen its role within the bloc alongside fellow new members Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Analysts cited by Reuters said Cairo is using the platform to push for policies that could ease trade, financing, and investment constraints faced by African states.
The BRICS summit, hosted virtually by Russia, focused on strengthening South-South cooperation, enhancing the use of local currencies in trade, and accelerating reform of global financial institutions. Financial Times highlighted that Egypt is aligning itself with other members in advocating for alternatives to the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international trade.
Observers believe Sisi’s intervention underscores Cairo’s growing ambition to position itself as a voice for Africa within multilateral forums, while also leveraging BRICS membership to attract investment and boost its economic resilience.
