President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi asserted, on Tuesday, the need to enhance Egypt’s relationship with Eritrea in order to promote peace and stability in the Horn of Africa region.
During his meeting with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki at the Itihadiya Palace in Cairo, Al-Sisi expressed his appreciation of the historic relations and joint cooperation between the two countries.
He noted that Egypt wishes to establish a sustainable partnership with Eritrea to achieve greater cooperation regarding regional security issues. This would also see complementary work to establish peace and stability in the region.
Al-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s keenness to strengthen relations and consolidate strategic cooperation with Eritrea, especially in infrastructure, electricity, health, trade, investment, agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.
He added that Egypt is looking to intensify technical support programmes provided to Eritrea, as well as strengthening joint military and security cooperation.
The meeting also tackled the latest regional developments of mutual interest, presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady said, especially the challenges witnessed in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea regions. This was extended to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue.
Meanwhile, Afewerki expressed his country’s aspiration to develop bilateral relations with Egypt on various levels. The strengthened relations come at a time when the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea regions are witnessing constant challenges and escalating foreign intervention.
The pivotal role Egypt has historically played in the region, in terms of maintaining peace and security, confirms that overcoming challenges in the Horn of Africa requires intensified coordination with the country, he said.
He praised Egypt’s stance aiming at achieving stability in the Horn of Africa, which was reflected in Cairo’s support for Eritrea in the recent period.
The two leaders recognised that challenges and tensions are casting their shadow over vast opportunities in the region which remain untapped, despite their undisputed benefits for all countries. They agreed to work together to foster mutual understanding and undertake concrete actions to protect the interests of all parties and advance common interests.
Egyptian-Eritrean relations started during Eritrea’s pre-independence days in 1991. During this period, Egypt moved to recognise the country as a separate entity from Ethiopia, in addition to supporting Eritrea’s Revolution of Independence.
