CAIRO (SD) — Egypt, Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea have agreed to strengthen political and security coordination following a four-party consultative summit in Egypt focused on developments in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the Nile basin.

The four countries reaffirmed their support for sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for peaceful solutions to regional conflicts. They also emphasized the importance of security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, while stressing the role of Red Sea coastal states in regional maritime affairs.

On Somalia, the four governments reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity and rejected recognition or support for Somaliland. They also expressed support for continued international backing for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and Somalia’s efforts to combat terrorism.

The summit also addressed the Nile dispute, with Egypt and Sudan emphasizing consultation and agreement on projects affecting downstream countries. The position comes amid their longstanding disagreement with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Ethiopia, meanwhile, has reaffirmed its legitimate interests in the Nile and Red Sea regions, rejecting efforts that could limit its regional role. Addis Ababa maintains that its geographical position and economic interests give it a legitimate stake in discussions concerning Red Sea security and access.

Somaliland has also rejected the summit’s position on its status. Hargeisa has consistently maintained that its sovereignty is separate from Somalia and that decisions concerning Somaliland’s political status cannot be made by Somalia or other regional governments. Somaliland is also expected to view the summit’s rejection of recognition as an effort to strengthen diplomatic opposition to its international recognition campaign.

The summit comes at a time of increasing regional competition involving Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Egypt and Eritrea, particularly over maritime access, security cooperation and political influence in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa.

The four-party summit represents a significant attempt to coordinate positions on issues directly affecting Ethiopia and Somaliland. For Somalia, it provides additional regional diplomatic support for its territorial-integrity position. For Somaliland, however, the declaration reinforces the diplomatic challenge facing its recognition campaign. The combination of the Nile dispute, Red Sea competition and the Somaliland question could further deepen geopolitical divisions in the Horn of Africa.