Cairo: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi departed Cairo on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, for Djibouti to hold talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh in the capital, focusing on escalating security issues in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
The two leaders, who first met on the sidelines of the 33rd Arab Summit in Bahrain in May 2024, will discuss restoring calm in the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait amid increased Houthi attacks on shipping linked to the Gaza war and coordinating a unified response among Red Sea littoral states.
They will also address the severe economic fallout from disrupted Suez Canal traffic—monthly revenues have fallen by about $800 million and 2024 earnings plunged over 60%, costing Egypt roughly $7 billion—underscoring the need for closer security and economic cooperation to protect national interests and regional stability.
