Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi meet in Egypt as the two countries discuss bilateral relations and regional security amid rising tensions in the Horn of Africa. Photo: Egyptian Presidency

NNA News - Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki is in Egypt for regional security discussions as diplomatic relations between Asmara and Addis Ababa have broken down and fighting has intensified in northern Ethiopia.

Afwerki travelled to Egypt on Saturday at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Eritrea’s Ministry of Information said the visit would include participation in a summit on collective security, stability and partnership, covering issues involving the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf and Nile Basin.

Afwerki met El-Sisi in New Alamein on Saturday on the sidelines of the Alamein Africa Business Forum. Egypt’s presidency said the discussions covered bilateral relations as well as developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Eritrea’s security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while stressing Cairo’s opposition to violations of state sovereignty. “Egypt’s full support for the security and stability of Eritrea” was reiterated during the meeting, according to the Egyptian presidency.

The Egyptian president also said Cairo wanted continued coordination with Asmara on regional issues and efforts to resolve crises peacefully. Afwerki, meanwhile, said Eritrea and Egypt had broad agreement on regional developments, particularly the principles of state sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs.

The visit follows a sharp deterioration in Ethiopia-Eritrea relations. On Thursday, Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata, giving them 48 hours to leave. Ethiopia said the diplomats were involved in activities that posed “a direct threat to Ethiopia’s national security” and accused Eritrea of hostile actions. Addis Ababa also said it remained committed to peaceful resolution of disputes and regional stability.

Eritrea rejected the Ethiopian accusations and responded by severing diplomatic relations. Its Foreign Ministry said Asmara had “no option but to reciprocate in kind and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia”, while accusing Addis Ababa of pursuing hostile policies.

The diplomatic rupture comes as fighting continues in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. Ethiopian government forces have regained control of Mekelle, according to Reuters and other reports, after Tigrayan forces withdrew from the regional capital. The development marks a major escalation in a conflict that had already raised fears of a return to the devastating 2020 to 2022 war.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of supporting the opposition alliance fighting federal forces. Eritrea and Egypt have rejected the allegations. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Saturday: “We have absolutely nothing to do with what is happening inside Ethiopia.”

Abdelatty said Egypt does not interfere in the internal affairs of other states. The African Union Commission has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to avoid further escalation. The AU said it was “closely following with concern” the heightened tensions and called on the three countries to “exercise maximum restraint”. It also urged them to maintain diplomatic channels and pursue peaceful dialogue. 

A four-way consultative summit involving Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia is scheduled for Sunday in New Alamein. The Egyptian presidency said the meeting would focus on consultation and coordination on regional issues of common interest. The summit is taking place as the conflict in northern Ethiopia, the diplomatic rupture between Ethiopia and Eritrea and competing security interests around the Red Sea add pressure to an already fragile regional environment.