Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has called on countries in the Horn of Africa to take primary responsibility for safeguarding security along the Red Sea, warning against growing foreign involvement in the region.
In a 20-minute interview with Egyptian media, Afwerki discussed long-standing tensions surrounding the Red Sea and broader regional security challenges affecting Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
“Somalia is a country with 3,300 kilometers of coastline, and this vast stretch in such a strategic location has long denied the country stability,” Afwerki said. “Somalia’s challenges are not just internal—they are regional and global.”
He also cited South Sudan as an example of how internal ethnic and political divisions can lead to prolonged instability following independence.
Afwerki emphasized that Red Sea nations must take the lead in protecting maritime routes and ensuring peace in the region.
“The region does not need outside powers to intervene. Coastal states must be able to protect their waters and strategic waterways,” he stated.
The Eritrean leader described the security of the Red Sea as a “historic necessity” and a shared responsibility among all nations along its shores.
