NEW ALAMEIN, Egypt, — Egypt reaffirmed its support for Eritrea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on Saturday as President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met President Isaias Afwerki for talks on security in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea, alongside efforts to expand economic cooperation.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Alamein Africa Business Forum in New Alamein. It followed Isaias’ departure from Asmara earlier Saturday, reported by Mesob Journal ahead of a working visit combining bilateral discussions with wider consultations on regional security and partnership.
According to Egyptian presidential spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, el-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s full support for Eritrea’s security and stability, and respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The presidency also reaffirmed Cairo’s “categorical rejection of any violation of the sovereignty of states or infringement upon their territorial integrity,” citing international law and the African Union’s Constitutive Act.
El-Sisi stressed the importance of maintaining coordination with Eritrea on regional issues, including efforts to resolve crises peacefully, strengthen stability in the Horn of Africa and ensure security in the Red Sea.
President Isaias, for his part, welcomed the growing cooperation between the two countries and their continuing political consultations. According to the Egyptian presidency’s account, he affirmed that Eritrea and Egypt shared broadly aligned positions on regional developments, particularly the need to respect state sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs.
Economic cooperation was another focus of the meeting. El-Sisi said Egypt was committed to translating its close political and strategic relations with Eritrea into practical economic and development projects across priority sectors. He welcomed Isaias’ participation in the business forum, describing the gathering as a platform for cooperation and economic integration among African countries.
Isaias welcomed that commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation, saying it reflected the historical depth of relations between the two countries.
The economic discussions followed meetings in Cairo on October 1 involving senior Eritrean officials and their Egyptian counterparts. Eritrea’s Ministry of Information said those talks addressed investment and trade in construction equipment and materials, pharmaceuticals, agricultural produce and marine resources, as well as maritime transport.
In announcing Isaias’ departure, the ministry described the visit as part of continuing consultations on collective security, stability and partnership across a wider neighbourhood encompassing the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf and Nile Basin.
The diplomatic programme is set to continue on Sunday, October 4. In a separate announcement, Egypt’s presidency said the leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia would participate in the El Alamein Consultative Summit to coordinate on regional issues of common interest. The four-country gathering is distinct from Saturday’s bilateral meeting between Isaias and el-Sisi.
