Quadruple Summit in Egypt Discusses Red Sea Security and Nile Waters

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On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi hosted a quadripartite consultative summit in New Alamein City, which included the leaders of Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia, to discuss developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, as well as issues related to the Nile waters and regional crises.

The summit included Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council in Sudan, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, alongside El-Sisi. The Egyptian presidency had announced the meeting coinciding with the presence of several African leaders in Alamein.

According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, the leaders affirmed the continuation of coordination and consultation regarding common regional challenges, emphasizing respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of states, supporting their national institutions, and rejecting interference in their internal affairs.

They also stressed the necessity of resolving disputes through peaceful means and respecting international law and the principles of good neighborliness.

The issue of Nile waters was strongly present in the summit discussions, as the leaders emphasized the importance of respecting international law governing transboundary rivers, including the Nile River. They affirmed, according to a presidential statement, the principle of not causing harm and the necessity of cooperation through prior notification, consultation, and consensus with the downstream countries. They also announced their complete rejection of any unilateral actions that harm the existing water uses of Egypt and Sudan, as the downstream countries.

This comes at a time when the Horn of Africa is witnessing escalating tensions, as the summit convened just 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 tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia.

Regarding the Red Sea issue, the leaders of the four countries emphasized the necessity of ensuring the security and stability of the strategic waterway and maintaining the freedom and safety of international navigation in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

These issues hold particular importance for the four countries, given their geographical location linked to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, and the security and political tensions the region is experiencing.

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

He also warned against external interventions that, according to the Egyptian presidency, prolong conflicts and increase humanitarian suffering, emphasizing the rejection of any attempts to undermine the unity of nations.

Sisi affirmed Egypt's continued support for national institutions and enhancing their capabilities to face security and developmental challenges, particularly terrorism and extremism.

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

At the end of the meeting, the leaders of Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia expressed their appreciation for Sisi's initiative to hold the summit, while a "Joint Alamein Declaration" was issued from the meeting, reflecting the understandings reached by the four countries regarding the issues addressed at the summit.