Egypt Leads Regional Alliance to Pressure Ethiopia Over Nile
Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan formed a security alliance in New Alamein to oppose Ethiopia's unilateral Nile dam actions and Red Sea ambitions.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi hosted a quadrilateral summit in New Alamein, Egypt, where leaders from Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan issued the El Alamein Joint Declaration. The alliance asserts that Red Sea governance is the exclusive responsibility of littoral states and demands that transboundary river management, specifically the Nile, follow international law. The group categorically rejected unilateral measures that harm downstream states, a direct reference to Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and plans for additional Blue Nile dams.
The diplomatic offensive coincides with a severe breakdown in relations between Ethiopia and its neighbors. Ethiopia recently closed its embassy in Asmara and expelled diplomats from Egypt and Eritrea, while Eritrea severed ties with Ethiopia. Ethiopia has accused Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea of backing the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which launched attacks on federal forces in September. While Ethiopian troops recently retook the regional capital of Mekelle, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati denied any involvement in Ethiopia's internal conflict, calling accusations of interference "unacceptable."
Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the joint declaration, stating that its role as the source of the Blue Nile and its need for Red Sea access cannot be altered by "coercion or aggression." While Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud indicated Somalia has no objection to Ethiopia gaining commercial port access, the broader alliance remains focused on isolating Ethiopia over water security and regional stability.
