The “Al Alamein-Africa Business Forum” calls for peaceful solutions amid regional tensions

The first session of the “Alamein-Africa Business Forum”, held in Egypt, witnessed calls for peaceful solutions to the conflicts of the African continent.

These calls launched by Egypt are considered by experts who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat to confirm “Cairo’s keenness for peace in Africa and to refute any Ethiopian claims that preceded the forum to the contrary,” and they expected that “the peace file will witness challenges.” But it also witnesses opportunities, if there are real intentions to reduce the escalation.”

On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened the first session of the forum and said, “Economic development is not built in unstable countries, and that stability is not a luxury, but rather a basic foundation that the investor, manufacturer, and farmer seeks to work in a safe environment that achieves their goals.”

He added: “In our African continent, we are well aware that security begins with supporting the national state and its institutions, respecting its unity and sovereignty, giving priority to peaceful solutions to disputes and crises, and preserving the principle of good neighborliness, which allows the activation of mechanisms of joint cooperation and economic integration, to meet the legitimate aspirations of our peoples for development and prosperity.”

According to a statement by the Egyptian Presidency, the forum was the result of an Egyptian initiative approved by the African Union last February, to be held periodically every two years in the city of El Alamein, jointly organized by the Egyptian government, the African Union Commission, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Export-Import Bank.

The first session of the forum will be held with high-level participation that includes a number of African heads of state and senior officials on the continent, in addition to an elite group of heads and directors of international and regional financial institutions, and private sector leaders from Africa and elsewhere.

The forum, which was launched on Friday at the ministerial level and on Saturday at the leaders' level, and will hold a final meeting on Sunday, came after Ethiopia's escalation, on Thursday, against Eritrea by cutting off relations with it and against Egypt by expelling one of its diplomats, and the two countries responded in kind.

Former Assistant Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mohamed Hegazy, believes that the “(El Alamein-Africa) Forum can turn into an effective Egyptian-African platform to support political and peaceful solutions to conflicts on the continent, and go beyond its role as an economic forum to a space for political dialogue and crisis prevention, linking settlement efforts to reconstruction and development, and creating real opportunities for stability.”

By hosting the forum, according to Hegazy, Egypt seeks to “establish a clear vision of security and stability in Africa based on respecting the sovereignty and unity of states, giving priority to dialogue and negotiation, and supporting the role of the African Union and regional groupings in settling conflicts, while moving from crisis management to addressing their political, economic and social roots.”

The expert in African affairs, Asmaa Al-Husseini, points out that the messages of the “Alamein-Africa” Forum are based on the priority of political and peaceful solutions to conflicts, support of state institutions, and rejection of interference in the affairs of states that increase the complexity of crises.

The importance of the forum, according to Asmaa Al-Husseini, is derived from its timing, “in light of the multiple hotbeds of tension on the continent and the overlapping security, political and economic dimensions therein, which makes dialogue between African countries an important factor in the search for viable settlements.”

On the sidelines of the forum, President Sisi received, on Saturday, the President of Burundi, the current President of the African Union, Evariste Ndayishimiye.

Al-Sisi affirmed “Egypt’s keenness to continue coordination and consultation with Burundi, and to support the role of the African Union in settling conflicts and crises on the continent through peaceful means, in a way that contributes to enhancing stability and achieving the aspirations of the African peoples towards development and prosperity,” according to a statement by the “Egyptian Presidency.”

Hegazy believes that the decisive Egyptian message is that “Africa cannot achieve economic integration in light of conflicts, nor build sustainable peace without development. Therefore, peace and stability must become an integral part of the African economic agenda, and the will for settlement must be transformed into common projects and interests that make peace a viable option.”

Asmaa Al-Husseini believes that President Sisi’s statements during “the forum were a very strong message to Egypt’s brothers in Africa regarding the peaceful approach keen on peace, stability and development on the African continent,” and she asserts that this “refutes all Ethiopian claims and claims about Egypt’s involvement in supporting Addis Ababa’s internal tensions, and directs the compass to the correct path that Ethiopia, which was absent from (the forum) in light of its agenda that is contrary to the path of development and peace, is opposing. In the region,” she said.

Egyptian regional airports recorded positive growth rates in air traffic during the months of August and September 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, despite the regional tensions taking place in the region. The total number of passengers reached about 5 million, 110,629 passengers, compared to 4 million, 875,411 passengers during the same period last year, an increase of 235,218 passengers, with a growth rate of 4.8 percent.

These indicators support Egypt's efforts to consolidate its position among global tourist destinations, and support the goals of reaching 30 million tourists, through developing airport infrastructure, improving the level of services provided to travelers, and expanding the scope of air connectivity with the targeted international markets.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday, Hurghada International Airport registered about 2 million 131 thousand and 400 passengers, compared to 2 million 8 thousand and 847 passengers, with a growth rate of 6.1 percent.

Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport also recorded about 1,638,499 passengers, compared to 1,543,000 passengers during the comparative period, an increase of 95,497 passengers and a growth of 6.2 percent.

El Alamein International Airport also witnessed remarkable growth, as it recorded about 99,921 passengers compared to 77,409 passengers, an increase of 22,512 passengers, a growth rate of 29.1 percent, in conjunction with the increasing activity witnessed by the airport, especially during its hosting of the second edition of the El Alamein International Aviation and Space Exhibition (EIAS 2026), from 8 to 10 last September, with the participation of about 300 companies and agencies from around the world.

At the level of southern Egyptian airports, Sohag and Assiut airports together recorded about 222,445 passengers, compared to 187,497 passengers during the comparative period, an increase of 34,948 passengers, a growth rate of 18.6 percent, which reflects the growing role of regional airports in serving travel traffic to and from the governorates of Upper Egypt.

While Marsa Matrouh International Airport recorded about 69,43 passengers, compared to 67,496 passengers, an increase of 2.3 percent.

Alexandria Airport recorded about 436,211 passengers, compared to 435,724 passengers, an increase of 0.1 percent. While Port Said Airport recorded about 3,705 passengers, compared to 2,219 passengers, an increase of 67 percent.

The Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Dr. Sameh El-Hafny, confirmed that the positive indicators recorded at a number of airports reflect the growing demand for Egyptian destinations and the continued growth in travel traffic.

He added that the Ministry is working in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, various concerned authorities, and airline companies to develop air connectivity with the targeted markets, open new markets, and support incoming tourism movement, in a way that contributes to enhancing access to Egyptian tourist destinations.

Egyptian tourism expert Dr. Hossam Hazza considered these numbers “an important indicator of the strength of demand for Egyptian tourist destinations, especially since they are airports directly linked to tourist destinations such as Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, El Alamein and Marsa Matrouh.”

He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “When we find about 5.1 million passengers at regional airports in two months, an increase of 4.8 percent over the same period last year, and at the same time Hurghada is achieving growth by about 6.1 percent and Sharm El-Sheikh by 6.2 percent, this means that beach tourism is still maintaining its momentum, and this is very important in light of the regional tensions that exist around the region.”

Egypt relies on the diversity of its destinations and tourism patterns to attract more tourists, after achieving an unprecedented record number of 19 million tourists last year, and it aspires to reach 30 million tourists annually by 2030.

Egyptian tourism expert Mohamed Karem believes that the increase achieved by air traffic in Egypt by 4.8 percent compared to last year “carries a very important significance for the tourism sector.” He added to Asharq Al-Awsat: “I consider this increase an indicator of the increased demand for the Egyptian tourist destination, and the ability of the tourism and aviation system in Egypt to deal with any regional variables, and to maintain tourism and aviation rates during the coming period as well, especially since tourism is an industry that depends on easy access to the tourist destination itself.”

Today (Saturday), Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed with the leaders of Eritrea, Somalia and Burundi the strengthening of stability in the Horn of Africa region, the security of the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden, and developments in the Nile water file.

During his meeting with the President of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, on the sidelines of the activities of the “Alamein...Africa Business Forum” held in the New City of El Alamein today, Al-Sisi affirmed his country’s full support for the security and stability of the State of Eritrea, and respect for its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Egyptian presidential spokesman, Mohamed El-Shenawy, stated in a statement published by the presidency on its Facebook page that the meeting dealt with the latest developments in regional situations, especially in the Horn of Africa region, where Sisi stressed Egypt’s categorical rejection of any violation of the sovereignty of states or infringement of their territorial integrity, in violation of the principles of international law and the founding system of the African Union.

Al-Sisi also stressed Egypt’s keenness to continue coordination and consultation with Eritrea on regional issues of common interest, which contributes to enhancing stability in the Horn of Africa region, supporting efforts aimed at resolving crises by peaceful means, and enhancing cooperation to achieve security and stability in the Red Sea.

The spokesman added that the Eritrean President appreciated the level of political coordination and continuous consultation with Egypt regarding various regional issues, stressing that there is a great consensus in visions between the two countries regarding regional developments, especially with regard to the necessity of respecting the sovereignty and territorial unity of countries and not interfering in internal affairs.

Today, Sisi also received Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, on the sidelines of the forum’s activities, where the meeting witnessed the exchange of visions on regional developments of common interest, as the two presidents agreed on the importance of continuing coordination and consultation between Egypt, Somalia, and the countries of the region regarding issues related to the security and stability of the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Red Sea, in a way that contributes to strengthening regional security and preserving the interests of the countries and peoples of the region, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidential spokesman.

In another statement, the spokesman stated that the Egyptian and Burundian Presidents Evariste Ndayishimiye also discussed, on the sidelines of the forum’s activities, the latest developments in the Nile water file, where Sisi stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Nile Basin countries on the basis of achieving common interests and not harming any of the basin countries.

Al-Sisi stressed the constants of the Egyptian position represented in preserving Egypt’s water rights and interests, as an existential issue for the Egyptian people, stressing Egypt’s support for development efforts in all Nile Basin countries, warning of the dangers of unilateral measures that affect the water interests of the riparian countries, and stressing Egypt’s refusal to exploit the Nile water issue for political gain.

For his part, the Burundian President affirmed his country's full understanding of the Egyptian concerns related to the Nile water issue, and considered the water issue to be a life and existential issue for Egypt, emphasizing the inability to achieve development at the expense of people. He stressed Burundi's keenness to consolidate the principles of cooperation, consultation and consensus among the countries of the basin, in a way that achieves common interests, promotes the optimal use of shared water resources, and contributes to supporting stability and development for the peoples of the region.

In addition, on Saturday, Egypt denied its relationship with the current crisis in Ethiopia, expressing its surprise at being involved in an internal Ethiopian issue.

The official Cairo News Channel quoted an informed source as being surprised at the recent statement issued by the African Union Commission, describing it as an “incomprehensible attempt” to involve Egypt in an internal Ethiopian issue.

The source stressed that Egypt's foreign policy is based on respecting the sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs, and full adherence to the principles of good neighbourliness.

He stressed that the current crisis in Ethiopia is internal, and Egypt has nothing to do with it, stressing that we should not be led by the attempt of some to divert attention from the real internal motives behind what is happening there.

The source added, “Such moves will not help calm the situation in a sister African country that needs the support of the African Commission to get out of the circles of conflict,” reiterating Egypt’s continued work to meet the legitimate aspirations of the peoples of the African continent.

An official Egyptian source had said, in previous statements, that what the Ethiopian government did in declaring a member of the Egyptian embassy in Addis Ababa as persona non grata was unfortunate and unjustified.

The source explained that the Egyptian side has always affirmed its complete refusal to interfere in the internal affairs of countries, and not to comment on events in other countries, including Ethiopia, out of respect for the rules of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

He stressed that the Ethiopian side has always pinned its failure in managing its files and successive internal crises on what it claims is the role of external parties to cover up its successive crises.

The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry had declared an Egyptian diplomat persona non grata, and gave him 48 hours to leave the country, based on the Vienna Convention, without giving a reason for the decision. On the same evening, Cairo announced, through an official source who spoke to Cairo News, that an advisor at the Ethiopian embassy had an undesirable person, and gave him the same period of time to leave, “in application of the principle of reciprocity.” Cairo described the Ethiopian decision as “unfortunate and unjustified.”