The leaders of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia agreed on Sunday to bolster political and economic ties and rejected foreign interference in the region’s domestic affairs under any pretext.
– Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted Sudanese Sovereignty Council head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for a consultative summit in the coastal city of New Alamein.
– In a joint statement issued after the talks, the four nations pledged deeper cooperation on regional and international issues, trade and economic integration, and affirmed their commitment to international law.
– Addressing the crisis in Sudan, the leaders affirmed their backing for “the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Sudan and its national institutions.”
– The declaration stressed their joint stance on “rejecting the establishment of any parallel entities” while “categorically rejecting any support to mercenaries.”
– They also called for “encouraging the resumption of a political process that is Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led” to help resolve the conflict.
– The group affirmed the principle of freedom of navigation, saying governance of the Red Sea remained an exclusive responsibility of its coastal states.
– They also demanded compliance with international law regarding transboundary waterways, specifically the Nile River, urging prior notification and consensus while rejecting unilateral moves that could harm downstream water access.
– Egypt and Sudan have long opposed the filling and operation of Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without a legally binding deal, citing threats to their water security. Years of tripartite talks have failed to yield an agreement.
– The leaders additionally affirmed their backing for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any foreign measures targeting its unity, including any recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland.
– They committed to supporting Mogadishu’s counter-terrorism operations and helping state institutions reassert control across all Somali territory.
– The four leaders agreed to convene their summit periodically and establish a joint mechanism to track progress on the initiatives discussed.
https://sudantribune.com/article/319627