Somalia Joins Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan for High-Level Talks Amid Horn Tensions

GOOBJOOG NEWS| CAIRO Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is joining the leaders of Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan for a four-way consultative summit in New Alamein on Sunday, as escalating tensions involving Ethiopia raise concerns over stability across the Horn of Africa.

The meeting brings together Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and President Mohamud.

The Egyptian presidency said the Alamein Consultative Summit would focus on consultation and coordination on regional issues of common interest. It has not publicly released a detailed agenda for the talks.

The summit comes against the backdrop of renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia and a sharp deterioration in relations between Addis Ababa and several of its neighbours.

Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic relations, while Egypt and Ethiopia have expelled diplomats amid escalating tensions. Ethiopia has also accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of supporting Tigrayan forces involved in the renewed conflict. The countries have rejected accusations that they are backing forces against Ethiopia.

The African Union has called for restraint, urging Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to avoid actions or rhetoric that could further destabilise the region.

Somalia’s participation places Mogadishu in a sensitive regional diplomatic setting. Egypt and Eritrea have developed closer political and security relations with Somalia, while Ethiopia remains an important security actor in Somalia and has troops involved in operations against Al-Shabaab.

President Mohamud met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa on September 29, underscoring Mogadishu’s continued engagement with Ethiopia even as it strengthens relations with Cairo and Asmara.

The summit therefore comes at a delicate moment for Somalia, which has security and strategic interests involving countries increasingly positioned on opposing sides of regional disputes.

Mohamud and el-Sisi also held bilateral talks in New Alamein on Saturday, during which the Egyptian leader reiterated Cairo’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

According to the Egyptian presidency, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and Somalia’s political and security situation, with el-Sisi reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to supporting Somali state institutions and efforts to strengthen security and stability.

Relations between Somalia and Egypt have expanded significantly in recent years, with the two countries elevating ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in January 2025.

Sunday’s four-way meeting comes as developments in Ethiopia, Sudan and the Red Sea increasingly overlap, raising the stakes for Somalia as it seeks to maintain working relations with Ethiopia while deepening political and security cooperation with Egypt and Eritrea.