The leaders of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia gathered Sunday at a summit in Egypt's coastal city of El Alamein, rejecting unilateral measures that could harm Egypt and Sudan’s water rights amid their dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council President General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also rejected interference in the internal affairs of countries in the region "under any pretext," according to the El Alamein Joint Declaration issued afterwards.

The declaration affirmed support for Sudan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and institutions while rejecting “the establishment of any parallel entities.”It also called for the resumption of a Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led political process, support for national institutions and the rejection of any support for mercenaries.

The summit also reaffirmed Somalia’s unity and sovereignty, rejecting any interference that threatens its territorial integrity.

It further rejected any recognition of or support for “so-called Somaliland.”The four countries affirmed the principle of freedom of navigation and said governance of the Red Sea is the exclusive responsibility of its coastal states.

Egypt, one of the coastal states, has repeatedly voiced opposition this year to Ethiopia obtaining a maritime outlet on the Red Sea. Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea gained independence in 1993 and has no right under international law to such access. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has continued to pursue the issue since taking office in 2018.

Ethiopia shares land borders with six countries: Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan and South Sudan.

On Jan. 1, 2024, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, paving the way for building a military base and developing a port on the Red Sea. Somali President Mohamud subsequently told parliament that the memorandum was illegal, a flagrant violation of international law and cannot be implemented.

The four countries stressed their rejection of “any unilateral measures that harm the existing water uses of the two downstream Nile states.”Egypt and Sudan, the two downstream countries, are embroiled in a dispute with upstream Ethiopia over its construction of a dam on the Nile and its refusal to sign a binding agreement governing its filling and operation. Egypt fears the project could affect its annual water allocation of 55.5 billion cubic meters.

The four leaders also agreed to hold the summit “periodically, and whenever the need arises, to enhance consultation and coordination among them.”On Thursday, Ethiopia severed relations with Eritrea and expelled an Egyptian diplomat, prompting reciprocal measures from both countries.

The developments came amid a crisis in Ethiopia following escalating attacks in late September by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which opposes Abiy’s government, and its seizure of airports.

Addis Ababa accused neighboring Eritrea as well as Egypt of supporting the group. Both countries have repeatedly denied interfering in other countries’ internal affairs.