Four African leaders call for political solutions as Ethiopia fighting escalates

The leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan have issued a joint declaration calling for political and peaceful solutions as fighting intensifies in Ethiopia and Sudan remains locked in civil war. The declaration followed a meeting in New Alamein City in Egypt attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. El-Sisi said earlier that cross-border challenges required dialogue rather than confrontation.

The four countries’ governments have been accused by Ethiopia of backing an armed alliance fighting federal forces, but officials from all three neighbouring states have denied involvement. The declaration supported Sudan’s military-led government and called for a political process led by Sudanese parties. Sudan has been at war since April 2023, when fighting began between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The leaders also said control of the Red Sea should remain with coastal states. The position appears to oppose Ethiopia’s pursuit of sovereign access to the sea and a naval presence, according to the supplied material. Somalia’s president said Mogadishu did not oppose commercial access through Somali ports if an agreement was reached with Somalia.

Egypt and Sudan, which have long disputed Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile, also warned against unilateral measures that could harm downstream countries. The statement came as Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters retook Mekelle after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front said it had temporarily withdrawn from the city. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of directly supporting the rebel alliance.

Eritrea’s information minister said Addis Ababa was seeking a pretext to attack Eritrea. The regional tensions have deepened as Ethiopia’s conflict involves seven armed groups and relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara deteriorate. Ethiopia recently closed its embassy in Eritrea and expelled 10 diplomats, while Eritrea announced that it was severing diplomatic relations.