Sisi and Eritrean President Hold Talks on Bilateral Cooperation

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received today President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea.

The official spokesperson for the Presidency, Mohamed El-Shennawy, stated that the welcoming ceremony included a guard of honour, the playing of the national anthems of both countries, and an official photo session for the two leaders.

An expanded round of talks was then held in the presence of the delegations of both countries, followed by a bilateral meeting between President El-Sisi and President Afwerki. President El-Sisi also hosted a luncheon in honour of the Eritrean President and the accompanying delegation.

The spokesperson noted that President El-Sisi welcomed President Afwerki to his second home, Egypt, highlighting the deep historical ties between the two countries. He stressed the importance of continuing efforts to strengthen and advance bilateral relations across various fields in a manner that serves the shared interests of the two brotherly peoples, particularly through enhancing trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Egypt and Eritrea. President El-Sisi also reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast commitment to supporting Eritrea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

For his part, President Afwerki expressed his appreciation for visiting Egypt and meeting President El-Sisi. He praised the progress achieved in bilateral relations and Egypt’s support for Eritrea’s development aspirations. He also reaffirmed Eritrea’s commitment to working closely with Egypt to further strengthen the brotherly ties between the two countries and elevate cooperation to broader horizons that serve their common interests and the aspirations of both peoples for prosperity and development.

The spokesperson added that the discussions also addressed regional and international developments, with the two leaders reviewing the latest developments in the Horn of Africa. In this context, President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s longstanding commitment to preserving security and stability in the Horn of Africa, describing the region as an extension of Egypt’s national security. He also emphasized the importance of continued coordination between Egypt and Eritrea to safeguard stability in the region.

President Afwerki, in turn, expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s efforts to promote peace, stability, and comprehensive development across the Horn of Africa, stressing the importance of bilateral coordination in supporting the foundations of peace and stability throughout the region.

The two leaders also discussed the latest developments in Sudan. President El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s firm support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, security, and stability. Both sides underscored the importance of ending the current crisis and supporting Sudan in restoring comprehensive stability.

The spokesperson further noted that President El-Sisi and President Afwerki reviewed ongoing cooperation between the two countries to ensure the security of the Red Sea and the freedom of navigation.

President El-Sisi stressed the importance of intensifying coordination between the Red Sea littoral states, emphasizing their exclusive responsibility for the governance, security, and stability of the Red Sea. President Afwerki expressed his agreement with this position, and the two sides agreed to continue coordination and consultations to support regional peace and stability and advance comprehensive development efforts across the region.