Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia issue El Alamein joint declaration: Red Sea governance rests with littoral states alone
The four-country consultative summit in New El Alamein closed with a joint declaration covering Sudan, Somalia, the Red Sea and the Nile.
The National reported that the El Alamein joint statement, issued late on Sunday, committed the four leaders to support Sudan territorial unity and to reject parallel identities, and to reject recognition of what it called the so-called Somaliland. The statement said Red Sea governance is the exclusive responsibility of littoral nations, and opposed unilateral actions that harm the existing water use of Egypt and Sudan on the Nile. The paper said the declaration made no direct reference to Ethiopia or Israel.
Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the El Alamein joint declaration, saying Ethiopia is the source of the Blue Nile and contributes about 85 percent of its flow, that “these geographic and historical realities cannot be altered by political rhetoric, coercive measures, or acts”, and that Ethiopia “stands ready to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and core national interests”.
The leaders of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia have issued a joint declaration at the close of their consultative summit in New El Alamein City, the Eritrean Ministry of Information reported.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan, took part in the meeting held on 4 October.
The declaration names international law as the basis of regional stability and cooperation, and underlines respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.
On Sudan, the four leaders expressed support for the unity and sovereignty of the country, rejected the formation of any parallel entity, and backed a political process led by Sudanese themselves.
On Somalia, they affirmed the unity and sovereignty of the country and rejected any interference that would undermine it, naming in particular the recognition of what is called Somaliland. They also pledged support for the Somali campaign against terrorism and for adequate funding of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission.
On the Red Sea, the declaration states that freedom of navigation and the governance of the sea rest with the littoral states alone.
On the Nile, the leaders called for international law on shared rivers to be respected and rejected any unilateral measure that would harm the water of downstream countries.
The four sides agreed to hold periodic consultative meetings to continue the coordination begun at El Alamein.