Cairo, Egypt – At the 5th Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi joined his counterparts from Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea in endorsing a bold new regional plan aimed at transforming the Red Sea and Suez corridor into a hub of sustainable economic activity.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, unveiled the Suez and Red Sea Initiative for Economic and Maritime Development (StREAM) — a multi-country framework to promote growth, connectivity, and environmental protection across the region’s maritime routes. The initiative rests on four pillars: advancing the blue economy, upgrading infrastructure and ports, safeguarding the marine ecosystem, and deepening economic integration among participating nations.
Somalia, whose coastline is the longest in mainland Africa and a vital gateway for trade between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, stands to gain significantly from this initiative. Fiqi emphasized that the plan aligns with Somalia’s national development agenda and its ongoing efforts to revitalize ports, strengthen the fisheries sector, and expand regional trade partnerships.
“The Red Sea is not just a waterway; it is a shared lifeline connecting our peoples, economies, and futures. Somalia welcomes Egypt’s leadership in bringing together countries that share this vital corridor to ensure it becomes a source of peace, prosperity, and environmental resilience,” Fiqi said in his remarks.
The StREAM initiative also highlights maritime security and environmental stewardship — two areas where Somalia has made steady progress with international partners. As Al-Shabaab threats continue along coastal regions and illegal fishing undermines local livelihoods, Somali officials say cooperation under the new framework could bolster both security and sustainability.
Analysts view StREAM as a promising platform to harmonize policies among Red Sea nations, many of which have long operated in isolation despite shared interests. For Somalia, the initiative could attract investment into strategic ports like Kismayo, Hobyo, and Berbera, modernize logistics corridors, and create new opportunities for coastal communities.
The Aswan Forum, held under the theme “Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Peace and Prosperity,” has become a key venue for African and Arab nations to forge collective responses to shared challenges. With the StREAM initiative now on the table, Somalia’s active participation signals its determination to reclaim its maritime strength and position itself as a central player in regional trade and development.