New Alamein, Egypt — The leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan have called for respect for national sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes following a four-way summit held against the backdrop of renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheik Mohamud, and Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met in New Alamein on Sunday.

In a joint declaration, the four leaders called for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and rejected interference in their internal affairs.

Summit follows renewed fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray region

The meeting came a day after the Ethiopian government and allied forces retook Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The TPLF said it had temporarily withdrawn from Mekelle, while fighting continued elsewhere in the region.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Egypt, and Sudan of supporting the armed alliance fighting the federal government. All three countries have denied the allegations.

Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have also deteriorated sharply, with the two neighbors severing diplomatic ties last week after Addis Ababa accused Asmara of supporting rebel forces.

Sudan war, Red Sea and Nile dispute discussed

The four leaders also discussed the war in Sudan, security and tensions around the Red Sea, and the long-running dispute over Ethiopia’s use of Nile waters.

Their declaration expressed support for Sudan’s unity and national institutions, called for freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and urged cooperation over transboundary rivers.

The talks come as political and security tensions continue to reshape relations across the Horn of Africa and the wider Red Sea region.

Meanwhile, fighting continued across Tigray. Reuters reported on Monday that airstrikes and artillery fire had killed at least 17 people near Mekelle.