Cairo —Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Eritrean counterpart, Isaias Afwerki, on Thursday stressed the need for intensive coordination between their countries and with other bordering nations to ensure the security of the Red Sea, a vital global waterway.
During a meeting in Cairo, Sisi highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation to prevent any disruption to navigation and to consolidate security and stability in the important region, a presidency statement said.
The talks also covered the conflicts in Sudan and Somalia. The two leaders affirmed their shared vision on how to end the war in Sudan, stressing the need to support national state institutions, foremost among them the Sudanese Armed Forces, and rejecting any attempts to create parallel entities. Sisi highlighted Egypt’s efforts within the “quartet mechanism” to end the war and alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Sudanese people.
Regarding Somalia, the presidents stressed their commitment to a joint tripartite statement issued during a summit in Asmara in October 2024 with the leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia. The statement had emphasized the need to respect the fundamental principles of international law, including the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Somalia and all countries in the region.
Afwerki is in Cairo to attend the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Sisi welcomed his visit and praised the “firm strategic relations” between the two countries, affirming Egypt’s keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic and investment fields.
For his part, Afwerki expressed his deep appreciation for Egypt’s role in consolidating stability and advancing development efforts in the Horn of Africa and East Africa. He welcomed the expansion of economic cooperation and bilateral coordination on international and regional issues of common interest.
The meeting was also attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Eritrean counterpart, Osman Saleh Mohammed.
