Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia say Red Sea governance exclusive to littoral states
October 4, 2026 (CAIRO) – The leaders of Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia declared on Sunday that governance of the Red Sea belongs exclusively to its coastal states, while reiterating full commitment to freedom of navigation.
The unified stance delivered a clear diplomatic signal to landlocked Ethiopia, which has sought sea access and naval basing in the region, effectively asserting that maritime security arrangements remain restricted to littoral nations despite Somalia lying outside the Red Sea basin.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted the quadrilateral consultative summit in New Alamein City, joined by Sudanese Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
In a joint statement issued after the talks, the four leaders reaffirmed that Red Sea governance is the sole prerogative of coastal nations, alongside an adherence to international maritime transit rules.
The leaders also addressed shared water security, demanding strict compliance with international law on transboundary rivers, notably the Nile basin.
They emphasized the principle of causing no harm, mandatory prior notification, and binding consensus, explicitly rejecting unilateral measures that compromise the water quotas of downstream states Egypt and Sudan.
Cairo and Khartoum have long opposed the filling and operation of Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without a legally binding agreement, following years of stalled tripartite negotiations.
The quartet agreed to institutionalize their coordination by holding periodic summits as circumstances dictate, while establishing an executive mechanism to monitor and implement the summit’s outcomes.
On regional crises, the leaders reaffirmed unequivocal backing for Sudan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legitimate state institutions, explicitly rejecting parallel administrative entities and foreign support for mercenary forces.
They also declared firm support for Somalia’s sovereignty, rejecting any recognition or bilateral security deals with the breakaway region of Somaliland, while pledging assistance for Mogadishu’s counter-terrorism operations.