A quadripartite summit in Egypt discusses the security of the Red Sea and the waters of the Nile

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi hosted, on Sunday, in the city of New Alamein, a four-party consultative summit that included the leaders of Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia, to discuss developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region, in addition to the Nile water issues and regional crises.

The summit included Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council in Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, along with Sisi. The Egyptian presidency had announced that the meeting would be held in conjunction with the presence of a number of African leaders in El Alamein.

According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency, the leaders affirmed continued coordination and consultation on common regional challenges, with an emphasis on respecting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of countries, supporting their national institutions and rejecting interference in their internal affairs.

They also stressed the need to settle disputes by peaceful means and respect the rules of international law and the principles of good neighbourliness.

The Nile water issue was strongly present in the summit discussions, as the leaders stressed the importance of respecting international law regulating international cross-border rivers, including the Nile River. They affirmed, according to the presidential statement, the principle of non-harm and the necessity of cooperation through prior notification, consultation and consensus with downstream countries. They also declared their complete rejection of any unilateral measures that harm the existing water uses of Egypt and Sudan, as two downstream countries.

This comes as the Horn of Africa region is witnessing escalating tensions, as the summit was held days after a diplomatic escalation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which included Addis Ababa closing its embassy in Asmara and expelling Eritrean diplomats, coinciding with diplomatic tension between Egypt and Ethiopia.

Regarding the Red Sea file, the leaders of the four countries stressed the need to ensure the security and stability of the strategic waterway, and to preserve the freedom and safety of international navigation in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

These files are of particular importance to the four countries, in light of their geographical location linked to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, and the security and political tensions taking place in the region.

During the summit, Sisi reviewed Egypt's efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire and comprehensive political settlements to regional crises, allowing the restoration of security and stability and the start of reconstruction.

He also warned against foreign interventions that, according to the Egyptian presidency, lead to prolonging conflicts and increasing human suffering, stressing the rejection of any attempts to undermine the unity of countries.

Al-Sisi stressed Egypt's continued support for national institutions and strengthening their capabilities to confront security and development challenges, especially terrorism and extremism.

The leaders also discussed ways to expand economic and development cooperation between Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia, and projects related to infrastructure, energy, trade and regional connectivity, with the aim of supporting economic integration and stability in the region.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the leaders of Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia expressed their appreciation for Sisi’s initiative to hold the summit, while the meeting issued the “Alamein Joint Declaration,” which reflects the understandings reached by the four countries regarding the issues addressed by the summit.