Egypt's Sisi urges dialogue as African leaders meet amid Ethiopia violence
Sisi said cross-border challenges "require cooperation, not competition, and dialogue, not confrontation", including in managing natural resources and transboundary rivers in accordance with international law.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged African leaders to pursue "dialogue, not confrontation" in addressing cross-border challenges, ahead of talks in Egypt involving Ethiopia's neighbours as concerns grow that escalating violence could spill across borders. (Courtesy Photos/Egypt Presidency)
________________
CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday urged "dialogue, not confrontation" ahead of talks among African leaders as concerns grow that Ethiopia's escalating violence could spill across borders.
Sisi was due to meet the leaders of Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan in the Mediterranean city of El-Alamein later in the day, with the Ethiopian conflict expected to feature prominently on the agenda.
Those three countries have strained relations with Addis Ababa, which has accused Eritrea of backing Tigray rebels with support from Sudan and Egypt, allegations all three nations deny.
He said cross-border challenges "require cooperation, not competition, and dialogue, not confrontation", including in managing natural resources and transboundary rivers in accordance with international law.
The remarks come against the backdrop of Egypt's long-running dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile.
Cairo and Khartoum have for years sought a legally binding agreement governing the dam's operation, citing concerns over water security, while Ethiopia says the project is crucial to its economic development and energy needs.
Meanwhile, renewed fighting in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region has revived fears of a return to the country's devastating 2020-2022 civil war.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched attacks on federal forces last month, and Ethiopian troops were reported on Sunday to have taken full control of Mekelle, the regional capital.