President Isaias Afwerki Begins Five-Day Working Visit to Egypt: Red Sea Security and Sudan Crisis Top the Agenda

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki arrived in Cairo on Thursday for a five-day working visit at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, marking a significant moment in the deepening ties between the two Red Sea nations. The visit includes high-level consultations and participation in the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum on November 1.

President Isaias was welcomed at Cairo International Airport alongside his delegation, which includes Eritrea’s Foreign Minister Osman Saleh.

Strategic Talks Focus on Stability, Sovereignty, and Red Sea Security

The two leaders held extensive discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and aligning positions on regional challenges. Both underscored the longstanding relationship between Eritrea and Egypt and reviewed progress on earlier agreements across political, economic, and security fields.

Officials from both governments noted a shared emphasis on sovereignty, non-interference, and stability in the Horn of Africa — principles that continue to guide cooperation between Asmara and Cairo.

President el-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Eritrea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Isaias, in turn, praised Egypt's role in supporting stability and development across the region, emphasizing the importance of coordinated action on shared strategic priorities.

Sudan: Unified Position on Ending the Conflict

The escalating war in Sudan featured prominently in the talks.

Both leaders reiterated their backing for Sudan’s national institutions — particularly the Sudanese Armed Forces — and rejected attempts to create parallel authorities. They stressed that any external intervention risks hardening the conflict rather than resolving it.

President Isaias reiterated Eritrea’s solidarity with the Sudanese people in what he called “trying times,” while President el-Sisi highlighted Egypt’s engagement through regional and international coordination efforts aimed at supporting a unified Sudan and easing humanitarian pressures.

Somalia and Regional Security

Developments in Somalia were also reviewed, with both presidents reaffirming commitments made during the Egypt-Eritrea-Somalia summit in Asmara in October 2024. The leaders emphasized respect for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, strengthening state institutions, and resisting destabilizing interference.

Red Sea Security at the Center

Ensuring the security of the Red Sea — a strategic trade corridor and geopolitical flashpoint — stood out as a central theme of the visit.

The leaders agreed to intensify coordination between coastal states to protect navigation routes and prevent regional conflicts from spilling into the maritime domain. President el-Sisi underscored the importance of joint action among littoral nations to secure the waterway and leverage its economic potential. President Isaias echoed a similar view, stating that lasting stability can only come through regional cooperation and sovereign decision-making free from external imposition.

Looking Ahead

With shared priorities on sovereignty, development, and maritime security, the visit signals continuity in the expanding partnership between Asmara and Cairo. Both governments framed the meeting as part of a long-term strategy to reinforce regional stability amid overlapping conflicts in Sudan and the wider Red Sea basin.

President Isaias’ participation in the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum — Egypt’s largest cultural project and a landmark on the global heritage map — will cap a visit defined by diplomacy, strategic coordination, and mutual recognition of regional stakes at a pivotal moment.