Egypt’s FM delivers message from Sisi to Eritrean President

CAIRO – 1 March 2025: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration Badr Abdelatty visited the Eritrean capital, Asmara, on Friday, to deliver a message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, according to a statement released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

The message addresses strengthening and developing bilateral relations in various fields, besides tackling a number of regional issues of common interest to the two countries, Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry said in the statement.

Khallaf stated that Abdelatty’s visit aims to follow up on the historic visit made by President Sisi in October 2024 to Asmara and to activate the tripartite coordination mechanism between Egypt, Eritrea and Somalia. The first ministerial meeting of this tripartite coordination was held in Cairo last January, and to begin preparing for the second meeting of the mechanism in the near future.

Abdelatty’s meeting with the Eritrean President witnessed a review of the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance the level of joint cooperation in various fields to achieve the interests of the two countries.

The meeting also witnessed an exchange of views on regional issues of common interest, most notably the situation in the African continent and ways to support peace and security in the Horn of Africa region, specifically supporting Somalia in combating terrorism and extending its sovereignty over all its territories.

They also addressed developments in the situation in Sudan and the importance of providing all forms of support to the Sudanese state and its national institution and preserving the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan. 

The meeting also addressed the situation in Libya and the African Sahel region, as well as developments in the Red Sea and the rejection of the participation of any non-Red Sea coastal state in the security and governance of the Red Sea. 

For his part, President Isaias Afwerki conveyed his greetings and appreciation to President Sisi, expressing his aspiration to develop bilateral relations in various fields to meet the aspirations of the two peoples and reflect the depth of the historical ties that unite Egypt and Eritrea.

In a joint press conference with Somali and Eritrean counterparts held on January 11, 2025, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the three countries agreed "to work together to strengthen the unity and sovereignty of Somalia and provide support to the Somali government.”

The three ministers discussed the implementation of executive measures based on the directives of the three heads of state from the Asmara Summit. Their focus was on enhancing security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region, as well as safeguarding the unity and sovereignty of the countries in the region. These efforts are being carried out within the framework of international law and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.

The three ministers welcomed the progress made in strengthening cooperation between their countries to achieve security in Somalia, including the ongoing collaboration between Egypt and Somalia in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts. They also highlighted Egypt's participation in the African Union Mission for Support and Stabilization in Somalia (AUSSOM).