PORT SUDAN (SUNA) – Vice-President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Malik Agar affirmed that Sudan’s stability and prosperity are inseparable from the security and stability of the Red Sea region and the Horn of Africa. He noted that security is no longer confined to protecting borders, but has become a comprehensive concept linked to development, justice and institution-building. Addressing the opening session of the Port Sudan Forum on Security and Development 2026 on Tuesday, Agar said that holding the forum in Port Sudan carried strategic significance, given Sudan’s position as a vital link between regions with interconnected interests. The forum is organised by the Horn of Africa Studies and Research Centre and attended by heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of regional and international organisations, experts, academics and private-sector representatives. The Vice-President described the Port Sudan Forum on Security and Development as an opportunity to develop an integrated regional approach that links security requirements with development needs, moves dialogue from diagnosing crises to seeking practical solutions, and shifts from managing immediate challenges to developing long-term strategic visions. Agar said the government’s vision for achieving lasting peace and reconstruction was conceived as a comprehensive national project that extends beyond rebuilding structures to include rebuilding the economy and institutions. He stressed that Red Sea security is a shared responsibility that can only be guaranteed through the participation of littoral states, respect for their sovereignty and preventing the region from becoming an arena for proxy conflicts. He affirmed Sudan’s welcome for expanded cooperation with China in agriculture, food security, energy, mining, ports and railways, as well as for benefiting from the Belt and Road Initiative. He noted that the success of partnerships should be measured by knowledge transfer and job creation, not merely by the scale of announced investments. The Vice-President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council called for a shared vision for the region’s future based on the peaceful settlement of conflicts, linking security with development, directing investment towards productive sectors, and translating the forum’s recommendations into practical programmes and projects. He proposed that the forum conclude with the adoption of the Port Sudan Declaration on Security and Development and the establishment of a strategic observatory for the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. Agar stressed that Red Sea security is a shared responsibility whose sustainability can only be ensured through the participation of the countries concerned, respect for their sovereignty and legitimate interests, adherence to international law, and the promotion of cooperation based on trust, transparency and mutual benefit.BH/BH