Eritrea’s State Leadership: Veteran freedom fighter and diplomat Minister Semere Russom has died at 83 after illness. He served the EPLF from 1976, later holding key posts including EPLF intelligence work in Khartoum, First Secretary in Sudan, Director General for the American Desk, Ambassador to the United States, Governor of the Central Region, and long stints as Minister of Education and Ambassador to Ethiopia. His funeral will be held Friday, 24 July, 10 a.m., at Asmara Martyrs Cemetery. Red Sea Security & Sovereignty: Egypt and Eritrea rejected “non-littoral” foreign control over Red Sea security, with Cairo hosting talks between Foreign Ministers Badr Abdelatty and Osman Saleh on sovereignty, maritime governance, and cooperation on ports, trade, and infrastructure. Horn of Africa Diplomacy: A US senior envoy, Massad Boulos, visited Egypt, Somalia, and Eritrea to review bilateral ties and push coordination on Red Sea and Horn security amid shifting regional alignments. Regional Flashpoint: Yemen’s Houthis announced a maritime embargo and naval blockade threats tied to the Bab el-Mandeb “Gate of Tears,” warning of wider disruption to shipping between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. Diaspora & Youth: Eritreans in the UK held their annual festival in Chelmsford, while Eritrea’s National Festival 2026 highlighted youth innovation and AI-linked displays aimed at boosting productivity.