Leaders of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia agree to boost ties, reject foreign meddling
October 4, 2026 (CAIRO) – The leaders of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia agreed on Sunday to bolster political and economic ties and rejected foreign interference in the region’s domestic affairs under any pretext.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted Sudanese Sovereignty Council head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for a consultative summit in the coastal city of New Alamein.
In a joint statement issued after the talks, the four nations pledged deeper cooperation on regional and international issues, trade and economic integration, and affirmed their commitment to international law.
Addressing the crisis in Sudan, the leaders affirmed their backing for “the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Sudan and its national institutions.”
The declaration stressed their joint stance on “rejecting the establishment of any parallel entities” while “categorically rejecting any support to mercenaries.”
They also called for “encouraging the resumption of a political process that is Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led” to help resolve the conflict.
The group affirmed the principle of freedom of navigation, saying governance of the Red Sea remained an exclusive responsibility of its coastal states.
They also demanded compliance with international law regarding transboundary waterways, specifically the Nile River, urging prior notification and consensus while rejecting unilateral moves that could harm downstream water access.
Egypt and Sudan have long opposed the filling and operation of Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without a legally binding deal, citing threats to their water security. Years of tripartite talks have failed to yield an agreement.
The leaders additionally affirmed their backing for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any foreign measures targeting its unity, including any recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland.
They committed to supporting Mogadishu’s counter-terrorism operations and helping state institutions reassert control across all Somali territory.
The four leaders agreed to convene their summit periodically and establish a joint mechanism to track progress on the initiatives discussed.