Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan Leaders Call for Peaceful Regional Solutions

The leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan have called for political and peaceful solutions to regional conflicts, including Sudan’s civil war and renewed fighting in Ethiopia.

The four leaders issued a joint declaration after meeting in New Alamein City, Egypt, on Sunday. The statement backed Sudan’s military-led government and called for a political process led by Sudanese parties.

The declaration also said control of the Red Sea should remain with coastal states, a position that comes as Ethiopia pursues access to the sea and a naval presence. The statement’s wording was reported as appearing to push back against those ambitions, although the full text of the declaration was not provided.

Warning over unilateral measures

Egypt and Sudan separately warned against what they described as “unilateral measures” that harm downstream states. The warning relates to their long-running dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told Al Jazeera on Saturday that Somalia did not object to Ethiopia obtaining commercial access through Somali ports, provided any arrangement was agreed with Somalia.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said earlier on Sunday that cross-border challenges required “a dialogue, not confrontation”.

Fighting intensifies in Ethiopia

The declaration came as fighting escalated in Ethiopia between federal forces and a seven-group armed alliance. Government and allied forces retook Mekelle after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front said it had temporarily moved out of the city and would “operate from somewhere else”.

The TPLF previously fought a two-year war with Ethiopia’s government that ended with a fragile peace deal in 2022.

Abraham Belay, a former Tigray interim leader, said the federal government was preparing a temporary administration for the region and hoped to hold regional elections within months, according to Ethiopian state media reports.

Ethiopia has accused Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan of supporting the armed alliance fighting its government. Officials from all three countries denied involvement, according to the source.

Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said in a post on X that Ethiopia was trying to create a pretext for attacking Eritrea. That claim, like the competing accusations of foreign involvement in the conflict, was not independently verified in the source.

Sudan remains central to regional concerns

Sudan has been at war since April 2023 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. Sudan and Ethiopia have also traded accusations of interference in Sudan’s civil war.

Against that backdrop, the four leaders’ declaration backed Sudan’s military-led government while calling for a political settlement led by Sudanese parties. The leaders also presented their appeal for peaceful solutions as part of a broader response to conflicts and disputes affecting the region.