Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh have reaffirmed their countries’ exclusive authority over the Red Sea, sending a strong signal amid Ethiopia’s growing calls for direct sea access.
During El Sisi’s official visit to Djibouti, the two leaders stressed that the security and governance of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden must remain solely in the hands of coastal states. According to local media outlets, the president “categorically rejected any actions that threaten the safety and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” highlighting that its management is a sovereign responsibility of bordering nations.
The meeting comes as Ethiopia, landlocked since Eritrea’s independence in 1993, intensifies its claims to maritime access. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has insisted that Ethiopia’s demographic weight, economic ambitions, and historical ties to the Red Sea entitle it to coastal access, describing it as a “natural right.” While Addis Ababa has stopped short of threatening military action, its assertive stance has raised concerns across an already volatile Horn of Africa.
In addition to maritime security, the talks between Egypt and Djibouti covered broad areas of cooperation, including defense, counterterrorism, education, and water resources. Both countries also pledged to support the African Union’s new Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, signaling their shared commitment to regional stability.
The joint reaffirmation by Egypt and Djibouti underscores a clear strategic message: decisions regarding the Red Sea’s future will remain in the hands of its littoral states, without interference from landlocked nations.
With conflicts raging in Sudan and ongoing instability in Somalia and Ethiopia, Red Sea security has become increasingly intertwined with internal political dynamics across the region. Egypt’s leadership in consolidating coastal state consensus reflects a wider effort to fortify regional maritime security and prevent any unilateral moves that could spark broader tensions.
As Ethiopia pursues its maritime ambitions, it faces growing diplomatic challenges with its neighbors and a united front determined to preserve the Red Sea’s existing governance structure.
