Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrived in Djibouti on Wednesday for an official visit aimed at enhancing bilateral ties and deepening regional coordination, particularly in response to growing tensions in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
President El-Sisi was welcomed by Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh upon arrival in Djibouti’s capital. The visit follows previous engagements between the two leaders, including discussions held on the sidelines of the 33rd Arab League Summit in Bahrain in May 2024.
During his stay, President El-Sisi is expected to hold high-level talks with his Djiboutian counterpart on strengthening political and economic relations, as well as addressing shared concerns over maritime security in the Red Sea and strategic coordination in the Horn of Africa.
The visit comes at a time of heightened instability in the region, with escalating security threats near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait due to the ongoing war in Gaza and Houthi attacks on commercial shipping routes. These developments have severely disrupted maritime traffic through the Red Sea, including the Suez Canal, a vital artery for global trade and a key source of revenue for Egypt.
In recent months, Egypt has reported a drastic drop in canal revenues, with losses estimated at $7 billion in 2024 alone — a decrease of over 60% compared to the previous year. Monthly losses have averaged around $800 million as vessels increasingly opt for longer, alternative shipping routes to avoid the conflict zone.
Both Cairo and Djibouti have repeatedly underscored the need for a unified response among Red Sea coastal states. In a joint statement earlier this year, the two countries emphasized the importance of safeguarding their maritime interests and regional stability through closer coordination.
As two pivotal states located at critical maritime chokepoints — the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb — Egypt and Djibouti play central roles in regional security. Their ongoing dialogue is seen as a step toward building a collective security framework to address the region’s emerging threats and preserve the safety of international trade routes.