PORT SUDAN (Nabaa Sudan) – Vice-President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Malik Agar affirmed that Sudan’s stability and prosperity are inseparable from the security of the Red Sea region and the Horn of Africa, stressing that security must extend beyond border protection to encompass development, justice and strong institutions.
Addressing the opening session of the Port Sudan Forum on Security and Development 2026 on Tuesday, Agar said the forum offered an opportunity to develop an integrated regional approach linking security with development, advancing practical solutions to crises and establishing long-term strategic priorities.
Organised by the Horn of Africa Studies and Research Centre, the forum brought together heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of regional and international organisations, experts, academics and private-sector representatives.
Agar described peace and reconstruction as a comprehensive national project encompassing not only infrastructure but also economic recovery and institution-building. He stressed that Red Sea security requires cooperation among littoral states, respect for their sovereignty and efforts to prevent the region from becoming an arena for proxy conflicts.
He also welcomed expanded cooperation with China in agriculture, food security, energy, mining, ports and railways, including through the Belt and Road Initiative. He said partnerships should be measured by their contribution to knowledge transfer and job creation, rather than investment announcements alone.
Agar called for a shared regional vision based on peaceful conflict resolution, linking security with development and directing investment towards productive sectors. 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.
He underscored that sustainable regional security depends on respect for international law, the sovereignty and legitimate interests of concerned states, and cooperation grounded in trust, transparency and mutual benefit.
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