NEW ALAMEIN, Egypt: Egypt hosted the leaders of Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia for high-level regional talks focused on Red Sea security, national sovereignty and growing political tensions across the Horn of Africa.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan to New Alamein for a quadrilateral consultative summit on October 4.
The meeting brought together four countries with significant strategic interests around the Red Sea, the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin. Discussions covered regional stability, maritime navigation, political cooperation and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states.
Red Sea Security Takes Center Stage
One of the central issues discussed at the summit was the future security and governance of the Red Sea.
The four leaders reaffirmed their support for freedom of navigation and emphasized that responsibility for governing and securing the Red Sea should remain with the countries located along its coastline.
The position reflects the growing strategic importance of the waterway, which connects the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal with the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
Security disruptions in the region can have consequences well beyond neighboring countries because the route remains important for international shipping, energy transportation and global supply chains.
Leaders Emphasize Sovereignty and Regional Stability
The summit placed strong emphasis on sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
According to the joint declaration, the participating countries rejected interference in the internal affairs of regional states and called for political and peaceful approaches to resolving disputes.
The discussions came at a sensitive moment for the Horn of Africa, where political and security tensions have increased, including a sharp deterioration in relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Regional developments have therefore added urgency to diplomatic coordination among countries bordering strategically important waterways and conflict zones.
Sudan’s Unity Receives Regional Support
Sudan was another major focus of the discussions.
The participating leaders reiterated their support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity while backing the country’s national institutions.
They also rejected efforts to create parallel governing structures and called for progress toward a Sudanese-led political process.
Egypt has repeatedly emphasized the importance of preventing the continuing conflict in Sudan from further undermining regional security.
Support for Somalia’s Security Transition
The summit also addressed Somalia’s security situation and ongoing efforts to strengthen government institutions.
The leaders expressed support for Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts and called on regional and international partners to provide sustainable funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia.
The mission is intended to support Somalia’s security transition as national forces gradually assume greater responsibility for maintaining stability.
The participating countries also reaffirmed Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Nile Water Issues Remain Part of Regional Diplomacy
Water security also featured in the discussions.
The leaders emphasized adherence to international law governing transboundary rivers, including the Nile. They highlighted principles such as avoiding harm, consultation, prior notification and cooperation among countries sharing water resources.
The summit rejected unilateral measures that could negatively affect the existing water use of downstream Nile states.
Water management has remained one of the most sensitive diplomatic issues in Northeast Africa, making cooperation over shared resources an important part of wider regional stability.
A Broader Push for Regional Coordination
The New Alamein meeting signals increasing coordination between Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia at a time when the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region face overlapping political, security and economic challenges.
The four countries agreed to establish a mechanism to follow up on the summit’s outcomes and to continue holding consultations when necessary.
For Egypt, the meeting also reinforces its diplomatic role across the Red Sea and Northeast Africa. For the participating states, stronger coordination could provide a platform for addressing maritime security, political disputes and regional economic interests without allowing tensions to develop into wider confrontation.
As geopolitical competition around the Red Sea continues to grow, the summit’s central message was clear: regional security should be built around sovereignty, cooperation, freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes.
