CAIRO — Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has travelled to Egypt amid heightened diplomatic and security tensions across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.
Afwerki’s presence in Egypt coincides with the visit of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who arrived in Egypt to participate in the Alamein Africa Forum, being held from October 2–4. The forum brings together African leaders, senior officials, financial institutions and business representatives to discuss investment, economic cooperation and continental development.
The timing of the Eritrean and Somali leaders’ presence in Egypt is significant given the rapidly changing political environment in the Horn of Africa. Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have sharply deteriorated, with both countries taking diplomatic measures against each other. The African Union has called on Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise restraint and resolve disputes through diplomatic channels.
The renewed tensions are also linked to developments in Tigray, Ethiopia’s relationship with Eritrea, and wider disagreements over Red Sea access and regional security. Reuters reported that renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia has raised concerns that local conflicts could become connected to broader regional rivalries.
Egypt has maintained close diplomatic and security ties with both Somalia and Eritrea. In October 2024, the leaders of Egypt, Somalia and Eritrea held a trilateral summit in Asmara, where they discussed regional security, stability and cooperation.
Against this backdrop, Afwerki’s current presence in Egypt, alongside President Hassan Sheikh and other African leaders, is drawing attention as regional governments navigate growing diplomatic tensions and security challenges.
There has been no official confirmation that Afwerki and Hassan Sheikh will hold a separate bilateral meeting during the current visit, so any reports about specific agreements between them should be treated cautiously until officially announced.
