Eritrea and Egypt in a joint statement rejected allegations from the Ethiopian government that Egypt is destabilizing the Horn of Africa.
A senior Egyptian delegation led by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty arrived in Asmara, Eritrean capital on Saturday. Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kemal is also part of the delegation. The delegation delivered a special message from Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al Sisi to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.
Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel released a statement after Egyptian delegation met with the Eritrean President.
“President Isaias Afwerki met, in the early afternoon hours today at Denden Guest House, Egyptian delegation led by Foreign Minister, Dr. Badr Abdelatty. In the extensive meeting – which is part and parcel of the periodic Consultative Forums that both countries hold in Asmara and Cairo respectively – the two sides discussed in greater depth, bilateral matters and regional issues of mutual importance; especially current developments in the Sudan, the Federal Republic of Somalia, as well as, the security of the Red Sea. The two sides underlined that enhancement of the bilateral ties between Eritrea and Egypt constitutes one of the key pillars of regional peace and stability. In this respect, both sides agreed to further upgrade the prevailing bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the economic, political, trade, agricultural, energy and health sectors”, the statement read.
Last paragraph of the statement is meaningful. It seems to be directed at Ethiopia. Ethiopian military and civilian officials recently indirectly criticized Egypt for allegedly destabilizing the Horn of Africa by sending military and arms to Somalia.
“The two sides categorically noted that Egypt does not espouse an agenda of regional destabilization and interference. Misconstruing these facts to peddle unwarranted statements and accusations by some quarters is thus hollow and merely invoked to rationalize their strategic mistakes,” said the Eritrean Information Minister.
Egypt, Eritrea and Somalia seem to have formed an informal alliance against Ethiopia. None of them is on good terms with Ethiopia. Egypt has been at loggerheads with Ethiopia for years over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD); Eritrea-Ethiopia relations deteriorated after Ethiopian federal government signed peace deal with Tigray fighters; Somalia and Ethiopia are locked into a dispute over a controversial Memorandum of Understanding signed by Ethiopia and Somaliland at the start of this year.
Egypt is providing arms to Somalia and planning large scale military deployment in Somalia. Deployment of Egyptian military in Somalia is raising alarm bells in neighboring Ethiopia. Egyptian government wants to take Eritrea into confidence before making large scale military deployment in Somalia.
Eritrea and Egypt have been holding discussions about ongoing civil war in Sudan too. Both are supportive of General Abdul Fattah al Burhan group.
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