Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh on Sunday to discuss regional stability, support for Somalia, the situation in Sudan, and Red Sea security. The talks took place amid ongoing concerns regarding Ethiopia’s desire for sea access.
The meeting was attended by Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hassan Rashad, Head of the General Intelligence Service.
According to the Egyptian Presidency, the Eritrean Foreign Minister conveyed greetings from Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, which Al-Sisi reciprocated, affirming the strong relations between the two countries and Egypt’s commitment to strengthening them across all sectors.
Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, the official spokesman, stated that discussions focused on the Horn of Africa and ways to promote regional stability through joint efforts and the tripartite coordination mechanism with Somalia. Both Egypt and Eritrea reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Somalia in combating terrorism and preserving its territorial integrity.
The meeting also addressed the restoration of peace and stability in Sudan, and the protection and governance of the Red Sea, emphasizing the need for coastal states to lead such efforts and rejecting the involvement of non-coastal states.
The discussions took place against a backdrop of concerns regarding Ethiopia’s desire for sea access. While landlocked Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has stated that his country has no intention of starting a war with Eritrea to gain access to the sea, a previous statement that a seaport was an “existential issue” sparked concerns. Abiy recently told parliament that the issue should be resolved through diplomacy and mutual benefit. The neighbours have had a fractious relationship in the past, raising fears of renewed conflict.
