Tigray Crisis and Regional Spillover: Ethiopian federal forces and allied militias have regained control of Mekelle, the Tigray capital, after the TPLF announced it was withdrawing—sparking fresh fears of a wider Horn of Africa conflict and renewed instability for civilians, with communications only recently returning. Eritrea in the Crosshairs: The fighting comes as Addis Ababa continues to accuse Eritrea of backing the TPLF, while Eritrea and others deny involvement—raising the stakes for Eritrea’s security and its diplomatic posture. El Alamein Bloc on Red Sea and Nile: Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan issued the El Alamein Joint Declaration, rejecting unilateral actions that harm Nile water rights and asserting coastal-state control over Red Sea governance, while also calling for non-interference and political solutions. AU Clarification: The African Union said it did not intend to blame neighboring states for Ethiopia’s internal developments after Cairo objected to an AU statement, urging dialogue to prevent escalation. US Calls for Restraint: Washington urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise restraint and return to negotiations under the 2018 peace framework. Diplomacy on Sudan: Egypt’s Sisi met Sudan’s Burhan to discuss ending Sudan’s war, alongside the same regional push for political solutions. Sports, but with Eritrea links: South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, under Pitso Mosimane, beat Egypt 1-0 in Cairo with Puso Dithejane scoring on debut—after earlier AFCON qualifying wins over Eritrea—while Eritrean-related regional attention continues through the wider Horn of Africa spotlight.