Four African leaders issue joint declaration as war in Ethiopia escalates

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Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan have jointly called for political and peaceful solutions to the escalating conflicts across the region, including Sudan’s civil war, South Sudan and major fighting in Ethiopia.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, issued the joint declaration on Sunday following a meeting in New Alamein City in Egypt.

Ethiopia has accused Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan of backing the armed alliance fighting its government. Officials from all three countries have denied involvement.

Earlier on Sunday, President el-Sisi said that cross-border challenges required “a dialogue, not confrontation.”

The joint declaration appeared to push back against several policies pursued by Ethiopia in recent years, highlighting widening rifts between Addis Ababa and its neighbours.

The declaration also backed Sudan’s military-led government and called for a political process led by Sudanese parties.

Sudan has been at war since April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Sudan and Ethiopia have traded accusations of interference in Sudan’s civil war.

The declaration also said control of the Red Sea should remain with the coastal states, seemingly in response to landlocked Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the sea and a naval presence.