In a meeting in Cairo with the European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber, Abdelatty stressed the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa countries to Egypt's national security.

Abdelatty started on Friday his first foreign tours with a trip to Somalia and Djibouti to mark the first direct flights between Egypt and the two Horn of Africa nations.

He told Weber that the trip “reflects the depth and importance of Egypt’s relations with the two countries,” read a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry.

Both sides also discussed various security and political issues and challenges in the Horn of Africa, where Abdelatty listened to the EU official's assessment of the region's recurring challenges, crises, and the growing threats of terrorism and extremism.

He underscored the importance of supporting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's government in achieving stability, development, and combating terrorism, according to the statement.

Red Sea crisis

Abdelatty also discussed with the EU envoy security developments in the Red Sea, stressing the need to ensure the freedom of international navigation.

He also underlined the impacts of escalating security threats on the global economy and Egypt, referring to the decline in the revenues from the Egyptian Suez Canal due to the recent Red Sea escalation.

Tensions in the Red Sea have escalated following the Houthis' recurring attacks on ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK near the strategic Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.

The group, which controls much of Yemen but is not recognised internationally, says the attacks are meant to pressure Israel to end its deadly war on the Gaza Strip.

These attacks have led several shipping companies to divert their ships from the Suez Canal, where 12 percent of global trade used to cross, to the much-longer Cape of Good Hope.

The annual revenue of the Suez Canal declined by more than 50 percent due to the Red Sea conflict, Egyptian government officials said in March.

Sudan war

During the meeting, Abdelatty reviewed the outcomes of Sudan's Political and Civil Forces Conference and Egypt's efforts to foster common ground among Sudanese parties and initiate a comprehensive political process. 

The Egyptian minister stressed the importance of preserving the Sudanese state, its capabilities and institutions, and addressing the humanitarian consequences of the crisis seriously and urgently.

Both sides agreed on the need to coordinate efforts and all effective mediation paths to de-escalate the conflict and utilize all necessary diplomatic and political means to resolve the crisis promptly.

For her part, the EU official acknowledged Egypt's crucial role in the Horn of Africa region, affirming the EU's commitment to continued coordination with Egypt on regional issues of mutual interest.

Earlier this month, Cairo hosted Sudan's Political and Civil Forces Conference, the latest in a series of efforts made by Egypt to address the Sudanese crisis, in cooperation with regional and international partners, especially Sudan's neighbouring countries.

In July 2023, Egypt hosted Sudan’s Neighbouring States Summit to discuss various aspects of the situation in Sudan and possible solutions to end the crisis.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). So far, the war has resulted in more than 13,000 deaths, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

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