Cairo, Egypt – Egypt is ramping up diplomatic efforts across Africa as it seeks to enhance security in the strategically vital Horn of Africa and Red Sea region.
This heightened engagement comes amid a significant decline in Suez Canal revenues, a critical source of foreign currency for the Egyptian economy.
Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on vessels in the Red Sea have severely disrupted shipping, leading to a staggering 60 percent drop in Suez Canal revenue over the past 11 months, amounting to a loss of approximately $7 billion. 
Recent diplomatic initiatives include the first meeting of a trilateral committee with Somalia and Eritrea, following a summit between the three nations’ leaders in Asmara. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also held discussions with his counterpart in Djibouti to strengthen maritime security cooperation in the Red Sea.
Amani el-Taweel, an expert in African affairs at Cairo’s Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, emphasized that developments in East Africa directly impact Egypt’s water security and its economic interests in the vital Red Sea shipping lanes.
Beyond the Horn of Africa, Egypt has intensified engagement with leaders from Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Chad, focusing on counterterrorism cooperation and trade ties.
Related Read; Egypt and Kenya Strengthen Ties with Landmark Agreements
This flurry of diplomatic activity underscores Egypt’s renewed focus on building strong alliances across Africa at a time when regional instability poses a significant threat to its security and economic interests.
Foreign Minister Abdelatty and his Djiboutian counterpart, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, during a recent phone call, stressed the importance of coordinated action among Red Sea states to address regional threats.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Somalia’s stability, a crucial factor in ensuring maritime security in the region.
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