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Toronto – Abbas Kamel, Director of the General Intelligence Directorate of Egypt, and Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, on Saturday delivered a message from President Al Sisi to Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki.
The two top Egyptian government officials held a meeting with Isaias at the Denden Guest House, in Asmara.
Yemane Gebremeskel, Eritrea’s Minister for Information, described the meeting as “part and parcel of the periodic Consultative Forums.” and their discussions focused on Somalia whose relation with Ethiopia is rock bottom at this point in time due to the Memorandum of understanding signed with Somaliland, Sudan and the security situation on the Red Sea.
In a message on X (formerly Twitter), Yemane wrote :
“In the extensive meeting – which is part and parcel of the periodic Consultative Forums that both countries hold in Asmara and Cairo respectively – the two sides discussed in greater depth, bilateral matters and regional issues of mutual importance; especially current developments in the Sudan, the Federal Republic of Somalia, as well as, the security of the Red Sea.”
In February this year, President Isaias was in Cairo for a three day official visit. At the time, cooperation and enhancement of bilateral relations including in security fields were discussed.
Yesterday, the two sides “agreed to further upgrade the prevailing bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the economic, political, trade, agricultural, energy and health sectors,” as disclosed by the Minister for Information of Eritrea.
Egypt and Eritrea believe that their bilateral cooperation is “one of the key pillars of regional peace and stability.” The Eritrean leadership also seems to be taking a stand that Egypt does not have an “interference” and “destabilization” agenda. Yemane Gebremeskel highlighted it in his update :
“The two sides categorically noted that Egypt does not espouse an agenda of regional destabilization and interference.
Misconstruing these facts to peddle unwarranted statements and accusations by some quarters is thus hollow and merely invoked to rationalize their strategic mistakes.”
There have been accusations that Egypt supports rebel groups in Ethiopia for several decades now. When the TPLF was ruling the country, the Egyptian Ambassador to Ethiopia was called in connection with alleged Egyptian support to radical ethnic Oromo nationalists who were given protection by Cairo. Historically, some of the Eritrean rebel groups used to have an office in Cairo and also operate in Somalia.
In 2018, Ethiopia and Eritrea ended two decades of no-peace-no-war relation after the now defunct EPRDF picked Abiy Ahmed to replace Hailemariam Desalegne who tendered resignation letters to the party at the time. Now, the relationship is drifting back to hostility.
There are reports that the Eritrean Embassy in Addis Ababa is no longer functioning as an Embassy. Also, the Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Asmara after Eritrea notified the Airline that it can not fly to Asmara as of September 30, 2024. Ethiopian Airlines accused the Eritrean government of freezing its money in the Eritrean Bank in Asmara.
What Egypt and Eritrea have in common as it relates to the politics in the Horn of Africa is that both have entered a military pact with Somalia.
The relation of the three countries with Ethiopia has deteriorated for different reasons. Egypt has been attempting to monopolize the Nile water and has been attempting to sabotage the construction of Ethiopia’s mega dam – the construction of which is almost completed with a reservoir holding more than 42 billion cubic meters of water.
Ethiopia’s relation with the government in Mogadishu deteriorated after Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland early this year. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty by signing the agreement. Somaliland has been existing as a separate country for more than 33 years although it lacked the recognition that Eritrea enjoyed when it seceded in 1993. Somaliland rejects Mogadihsu’s claim.
The relation between Ethiopia and Eritrea has been deteriorating for more than two years now. It is believed that it started in connection with how Abiy Ahmed handled the last chapter of the two years war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. However, this week TPLF leaders made it public that they have established relations with the Eritrean government – apparently after the relation between Abiy Ahmed’s government and Isaias Afeworki deteriorated.
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I wouldn’t make a stink of such discussions between the two nations. We have to keep in mind that Eritrea is a sovereign country and it is entitled to hold such discussions. Egypt’s intentions could be driven by a different motive and I’m 100% sure that Brother Isaias has a full knowledge of el-Sisi’s overtures. I don’t think he will let his country be used as a beast of burden by the super power wannabe megalomaniac in Al-Qahirah. In the long run when things are all sorted out amicably by the two kin and kit Eritreans and Ethiopians, the GERD dam has the capacity to supply electricity at reasonable and affordable price to Eritrea also. It is already supplying cheap electricity to Kenya and Djibouti. It is reported Tanzania is next. South Sudan is inevitable.
It is funny we are exporting before satisfying even 80 to 90% of the needs of residents of Ethiopia let alone Factories that have been needing power for long time and using Gas generators for years. Nothing changed from TPLF times. 5000 MW of power is not that big for 120 million people. We need more if we get to transition from agrarian economy to Industrial one.
Obo Ittu
If you know full well that neighboring Eritrea is sovereign country and be respected how come you don’t know that the neighbouring poor Somalia is a sovereign country even before it be respected? Or is it something that Oromuma has an stake in ? Just wondering.
Okay, Ethiopia! Out of Oromia! Ethiopia! Out of Amhara! Ethiopia! Out of Tigray! Hey Ethiopia! Out of Ethiopia!!!!! I’m telling you Ethiopia! You heard me!!! Out of Ethiopia! If you don’t, I’m gonna in there myself and kick every Ethiopia that comes with in my parameter out of Ethiopia!!! Then I will the old Mussolini spiritual:
Faccetta nera, bell’abissina
Aspetta e spera che già l’ora si avvicina!
quando saremo insieme a te
noi ti daremo un’altra legge e un altro Re
Faccetta nera, bell’abissina
Aspetta e spera che già l’ora si avvicina!
quando saremo insieme a te
noi ti daremo un’altra legge e un altro Re
Faccetta nera, piccola abissina
ti porteremo a Roma, liberata
Dal sole nostro tu sarai baciata
Sarai in Camicia Nera pure tu
You see, I still remember every word of it from glorious days as a member of Gruppo Bande(Ascari). Would somebody please raise Mussolini, Graziani and Badoglio from the dead for me!!! I’m begging you!!!