Written by: Badr Ahmed

Habib Mohammed Osman, the media and cultural advisor at the Eritrean embassy in Cairo, said that relations between Egypt and Eritrea are strategic at the level of public policy in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East region, noting that this consensus reflects an advanced level of coordination between the leaderships of the two countries, especially during the summits that brought together Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.

Political understandings extending from the Horn of Africa to the Middle East

The advisor added in statements to the “Zoom Africa News” website that relations between Egypt and Eritrea are not witnessing any disputes or problems, but rather are based on understandings and strategic agreements that extend to the files of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, in addition to the issues of the Middle East in general, stressing that the two countries are keen to support regional stability.

He added that Cairo and Asmara emphasize the importance of preserving the unity of Somalia and the unity of Sudan, as they are two fundamental pillars of stability in the region, noting that this approach represents one of the axes of political coordination between the two sides.

Habib Mohamed Osman touched on the Egyptian-Eritrean agreement aimed at stimulating and strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries, explaining that these agreements will contribute to expanding areas of cooperation, especially in the ports and shipping sectors, in order to achieve common economic interests.

He explained that the planned shipping line project will start from Eritrea, but it will also pass through Jeddah port and Port Sudan port, which will enhance investments in this shipping route and stimulate economic activity between the four countries, in addition to supporting cooperation between Egypt and the countries of the Horn of Africa more broadly.

He pointed out that this shipping line will not be limited to the countries directly participating, but can extend to serve other countries located beyond Eritrea, thus contributing to expanding the scope of trade exchange.

He stressed that the project will also enhance trade between Egypt and the countries of the Horn of Africa, in addition to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, explaining that the line could form an important logistical channel for Egyptian trade towards the countries of southern Africa via Eritrean territory.

The Eritrean advisor concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the agreement represents the beginning of establishing a shipping line linking Egypt and the Horn of Africa region, with the possibility of later expanding it to include countries in East and South Africa, which will enhance regional economic integration and support intra-regional trade.

Maritime transport agreement between Egypt and Eritrea

Egypt and Eritrea signed a joint agreement on Saturday for cooperation in the field of maritime transport, in the presence of President Isaias Afwerki, President of the State of Eritrea.

The signing took place during the official visit of the high-level Egyptian delegation, which included Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad, and Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Ministerial Group for Industrial Development.