The leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia gathered in Asmara on Thursday for a three-way summit. This meeting comes against a backdrop of increasing tensions in the Horn of Africa region, primarily fueled by Ethiopia’s controversial maritime agreement with the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland.
The agreement has sparked outrage in Mogadishu and exacerbated regional rivalries, leading to strained relations between Ethiopia, Somalia, and Egypt. The summit aimed to address these concerns and promote regional stability.
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met in Asmara, according to a post by Mohamud’s office on X. The Eritrean information ministry emphasized the summit’s focus on strengthening ties between the three countries and addressing regional security challenges.
Mohamud, who has visited Eritrea several times, held separate talks with Isaias prior to the summit. They discussed the importance of bolstering cooperation to maintain Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity, which have been threatened by numerous challenges in recent decades.
Sisi, whose government supports Somalia in its dispute with Ethiopia, also arrived in Asmara for the summit. This is his first visit to Eritrea, although Isaias has visited Egypt on several occasions.
The memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland would grant Ethiopia access to the sea through a leased stretch of coastline in Somaliland. However, Mogadishu, which does not recognize Somaliland’s independence, views this agreement as a violation of its sovereignty.
In response, Somalia has drawn closer to Ethiopia’s rival, Egypt. The two countries signed a major military deal and Cairo pledged troops for a new African Union mission against the Al-Shabaab jihadist group.
Egypt has also been at odds with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which it believes threatens its water supply.
Relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have also been on the decline. Despite Eritrea’s support for Ethiopian government forces in the recent war against Tigrayan rebels, tensions have risen due to the peace agreement between Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
Ethiopia Airlines recently suspended flights to Asmara citing difficult operating conditions. Eritrea, ruled by Isaias Afwerki since its independence from Ethiopia, has faced challenges in maintaining stability and cooperation within the region.