The leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia gathered in New Alamein on Sunday to discuss regional tensions and security in the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, was attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council President Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and Somali leaders. The summit aimed to exchange views on developments in the region and their implications.
The meeting comes amid mounting tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which severed diplomatic relations on October 1. Ethiopia accused Eritrea of supporting armed opposition groups, while Eritrea rejected the allegations and responded by cutting diplomatic ties. Former Egyptian assistant foreign minister Rakha Ahmed Hassan said the summit came at a critical moment, following the sharp deterioration in relations between the two countries. Hassan rejected Ethiopian accusations of Egyptian interference, saying Egypt respects the sovereignty of all nations and does not interfere in internal affairs.
The leaders reaffirmed the principle of freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and stressed the importance of adhering to international law governing transboundary rivers, including the Nile. They rejected unilateral measures that could harm the existing water usage of the two downstream Nile states. The statement also emphasized respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states in the region and rejected interference in their internal affairs.
The summit also backed Somalia's counterterrorism efforts and called for the strengthening of state institutions across the country. The leaders urged regional and international partners to provide adequate, sustainable, and predictable funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM, to support the country's security transition and the eventual transfer of responsibilities to Somali forces.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council President Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on the sidelines of the Alamein Africa Business Forum. El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's support for Eritrea's security and stability and stressed respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also reiterated Cairo's support for Sudan's unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national institutions.
The meeting builds on growing coordination among Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia. At a tripartite summit in Asmara in October 2024, the leaders of the three countries stressed respect for regional sovereignty and territorial integrity and agreed to strengthen coordination on Somalia, Sudan, and security in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated that Egypt had no role in Ethiopia's internal affairs and did not interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries.
The leaders' joint statement emphasized the importance of cooperation over transboundary rivers, based on international law, consultation, coordination, good-neighborliness, and the principle of causing no harm. They also reaffirmed Sudan's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and voiced support for its national institutions. The summit concluded with a call for political and peaceful solutions to regional conflicts.
Key points
- The leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia reaffirm the principle of freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
- The summit emphasizes respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states in the region.
- The leaders call for the strengthening of state institutions in Somalia and adequate funding for AUSSOM.
