CAIRO, Apr 24 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's foreign minister said Egypt is seeking to defend African interests from within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), as Egypt makes a bid for non-permanent membership of the council. 

The African continent's affairs come at the top of the priorities of the Egyptian government, Minister Sameh Shukri said in a ministry statement. 

The foreign minister is currently in New York, where he kicked off talks on Friday, with a meeting with Sam Kutesa, the President of the United Nations General Assembly’s 69th session.

They discussed the political and security conditions in the Horn of Africa and how Egypt aims to strengthen efforts to fight terrorism in East Africa and the Sahel regions. 

During the talk, the Egyptian foreign minister said Egypt finds it necessary to reform the UNSC to make it more democratic and representative.

Egypt, which hopes for a non-permanent seat in 2016 - 2017, was last a member of the UNSC in 1996 - 1997.