Egypt, Somalia, Eritrea solidify regional alliance amid tensions with Ethiopia
The three countries have pledged to deepen cooperation and defend Somalia's sovereignty after their leaders met in Eritrea's capital.
The Egyptian, Somali and Eritrean presidents held a summit on Thursday in Asmara, Eritrea, where they agreed to deepen cooperation and signaled their backing of Somalia in its ongoing tensions with Ethiopia.
A joint statement released by Eritrea’s Ministry of Information said that Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud agreed on “the imperative of adhering to the basic principles of international law … especially unequivocal respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of countries in the region,” in a nod to the ongoing tension between Somalia and Ethiopia.
According to the statement, the three countries also agreed to bolster cooperation and coordination “in order to enhance the capabilities of the Somali state institutions to confront various internal and external challenges.”
Somali Information Minister Daud Aweis denied, however, that the recent meetings signaled a move against Ethiopia.
