Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan have joined Somalia in rejecting any recognition or external support for Somaliland, reaffirming Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity at a four-way summit in Egypt.
The position was set out in the joint El Alamein statement issued after talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The four leaders reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity and explicitly rejected moves to recognise or support Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not secured broad international recognition.
The statement said the leaders agreed to “reject any recognition or support for the so-called Somaliland”, arguing that such measures would undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The wording went beyond opposing formal diplomatic recognition, extending to broader forms of external support for Somaliland.
The issue has gained renewed regional attention since Israel recognised Somaliland on December 26, 2025, becoming the first country to formally recognise the territory as an independent state. Relations between Israel and Somaliland have subsequently deepened.
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi visited Israel in June, where he was received at the Knesset, while Hargeisa has also opened an embassy in Jerusalem.
The El Alamein declaration places Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan among regional states that have explicitly opposed international recognition or special support for Somaliland.
Support for Somalia’s security
The summit also expressed support for Somalia’s efforts to combat Al-Shabaab and strengthen state institutions.
The four leaders called on the international community and regional partners to provide “adequate, sustainable and predictable funding” for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
They said sustained financing was essential to enable Somalia gradually to assume full responsibility for its security as its forces take over duties currently performed by African Union troops.
Funding for AUSSOM has emerged as a major challenge for both Somalia and the African Union, as the mission seeks continued international backing for its operations against armed groups.
Red Sea and Nile disputes
The four countries also adopted a common position on the Red Sea, saying responsibility for the waterway should rest primarily with its littoral states.
They stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted movement of commercial shipping through the Red Sea, one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
On the Nile, the leaders reaffirmed the principle that countries should not undertake actions that cause harm to others and called for transboundary water disputes to be managed through prior notification, consultation and agreement.
They rejected unilateral measures that could affect Egypt and Sudan’s access to Nile waters.
Although Ethiopia was not directly named in the statement, the issue reflects a longstanding dispute between Addis Ababa on one side and Cairo and Khartoum on the other over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile.
On Sudan, the four leaders reaffirmed support for the country’s unity and territorial integrity and rejected the establishment of parallel governments or institutions outside the authority of the state.
They called for a Sudanese-led political process and urged an end to external support for mercenaries involved in the conflict.
The four governments also agreed to establish a mechanism to monitor implementation of the summit’s decisions and to maintain consultations among the four countries when necessary.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
Somalia condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, warns of regional security threat
