Egyptian, Eritrean, Somali, and Sudanese leaders issued a joint declaration in New Alamein City on Sunday, calling for regional peace and Red Sea coastal control amid escalating civil war in Sudan and intensified fighting between federal forces and an armed alliance in Ethiopia.
Four African Nations Establish Regional Security Coordination Mechanism
Leaders from four African nations gathered in New Alamein City in Egypt on Sunday to forge a coordinated security stance.
The resulting joint declaration established a regular mechanism for regional security coordination and reaffirmed mutual support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of each participating nation. Ahead of the formal announcement, President el-Sisi stated that cross-border challenges required a dialogue, not confrontation
.
In addition to security matters, the leaders discussed economic and development cooperation, focusing specifically on trade, energy, and infrastructure initiatives.
Regional Security Concerns Across Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia
The summit took place against a backdrop of intensifying conflict in Ethiopia, where federal forces clashed with a seven-group armed alliance that includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Government and allied forces recaptured the city of Mekelle after the TPLF stated it had temporarily moved out of
the Tigray regional capital in order to operate from somewhere else
. Ethiopian state media reported that former Tigray interim leader Abraham Belay announced federal preparations for a new temporary administration and regional elections within months.
Addis Ababa was trying to create a pretext for attacking Eritrea.
Yemane Gebremeskel, Eritrea’s Information Minister
Simultaneously, Ethiopian officials accused Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan of backing the rebel alliance, an allegation that officials from all three nations denied. The joint declaration also strongly backed Sudan’s military-led government, rejecting the creation of parallel governing structures and calling for a Sudanese-led political process to resolve the ongoing civil war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that began in April 2023.
The leaders also backed Somalia’s ongoing campaign to combat militant groups. They called for predictable and sustainable international funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which is designed to help Somali forces gradually assume responsibility for national security. The declaration also rejected any recognition or support for Somaliland, describing such moves as contrary to the territorial integrity of Somalia.
Leaders Assert Regional Coastal States Should Govern Red Sea
The summit addressed maritime and water resource disputes, asserting that Red Sea governance should remain the responsibility of regional coastal states, while emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and freedom of international navigation in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This position responds to landlocked Ethiopia’s efforts to secure sovereign access to the sea and establish a naval presence. Meanwhile, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reiterated on Saturday that Mogadishu does not oppose commercial access through Somali ports for Ethiopia, provided such arrangements are agreed upon with Somalia.
Downstream nations Egypt and Sudan also addressed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, warning against unilateral measures
that could harm downstream water uses and emphasizing the necessity of prior notification, consultation, and consensus under international law.
