How U.S. Support for the WERSO Initiative and Sudan’s Multinational Port Can Foster Regional Stability
‘The cooperation could turn regional tensions into prosperity, transforming conflict into collaboration, the Pilot Project: Sudanese-Ethiopian-Egyptian Port Partnership” — Mekki ELMOGRABI
\As conflict persists in Sudan and tensions rise in Ethiopia and Somalia, alongside unsettling events in the Middle East, African scholars and specialists are increasingly committed to devising indigenous solutions to the continent’s challenges. This determination reflects a broader movement towards self-reliance and regional collaboration in addressing pressing issues.
Mekki ELMOGRABI, an experienced consultant in African media and regional development, has put forth an ambitious initiative to establish the Western Red Sea Organization (WERSO). This organization aims to tackle economic inequalities and geopolitical strife within the region. In his recent article and during a conference held in Addis Ababa, ELMOGRABI underscored the urgent necessity for collaboration among the nations bordering the Red Sea and their landlocked counterparts.
ELMOGRABI’s vision for WERSO is rooted in the belief that cooperative efforts can significantly enhance stability and prosperity in the region. By fostering partnerships and addressing shared challenges, WERSO has the potential to be a transformative force, promoting economic development and mitigating conflicts among the involved nations. The establishment of such an organization could mark a pivotal step towards achieving lasting peace and cooperation in the Red Sea area.
WERSO would include countries like Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Central Africa, and Chad. Unlike the Saudi-led Red Sea Council, ELMOGRABI’s vision focuses on fostering development among both coastal and landlocked countries. “The need for maritime access is not about greed, but a necessity for economic growth and stability,” said ELMOGRABI in his article on MCAA website, citing the growing tension between Ethiopia and Somalia as a pressing issue that WERSO could help resolve.
Pilot Project: Sudan-Egypt-Ethiopia Port Partnership
At the heart of ELMOGRABI’s proposal is a pilot project: a Sudanese-Ethiopian-Egyptian port partnership. This tri-national venture would bring together Egypt’s expertise in port management, Sudan’s allocation of a port, and Ethiopia’s contribution through electrical and agricultural partnerships. Port Sudan’s Green Port dock is seen as a potential starting point until a new port is built.
“The cooperation could turn regional tensions into prosperity, transforming conflict into collaboration,” ELMOGRABI explained. The project, he argues, must remain exclusive to Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia to ensure regional stability. “Sudan’s sovereignty and its pivotal role in mediating between Ethiopia and Egypt make it the ideal leader for this initiative,” he added.
If successful, the project could serve as a model for regional collaboration, offering a framework for other African nations to follow. It would also alleviate Ethiopia’s longstanding challenge of maritime access while building trust among the three countries.
Why the U.S. Should Support the WERSO Proposal?
\Consultant ELMOGRABI believes the U.S. has a critical role to play in supporting WERSO. He points to past American policies that have strained relations with countries in the region. “The U.S. must correct its missteps by endorsing this pragmatic, cooperative venture,” he said. The reason behind that according to ELMOGRABI’s analysis, “Ethiopian public opinion views past U.S. actions—particularly under the Trump administration’s stanceon the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)—as antagonistic.” Mekki said. Regarding Sudan and Egypt, the consultant claims that the Biden administration’s indecisiveness and slow actions against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan contributed to prolonging the war that erupted in April 2023, “the mistake in the US administration’s position is due to its participation in the Quadrant Mechanism and its commitment to prioritizing cooperation with this mechanism, a group of four countries (USA, UK, UAE, and KSA)” Mekki wrote.
By backing the WERSO proposal, the U.S. could help protect the initiative from external interference, ensuring that the benefits remain within the region. ELMOGRABI urges the U.S. government to prioritize this initiative, stating that it would help rebuild trust with African nations. He also notes that both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates could use the opportunity to improve their standing in African affairs ahead of the 2024 elections.
If the U.S. does not support this proposal, ELMOGRABI argues, it risks repeating the mistakes that contributed to the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the wider Horn of Africa. He concluded his article with a message to US officials U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello, U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Ambassador Mike Hammer, and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.
Mekki ELMOGRABI
Mekki Center for African Affairs – Think Tank (MCAA-TT)
+1 202-960-7870
info@mekkicenter.com
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