Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi sent a message to Sudan and Ethiopia on Monday, saying that Egypt “does not conspire and did not interfere in the affairs of others.” “[Egypt] is very keen on maintaining good relations with everyone, and what the region has seen over the past years is enough,” he said, stressing that his country’s firm policy was seeking construction and development. In a speech during the opening of a number of development projects, the president noted that Egypt was a country that does not know maneuvering or reneging of its statements. He called for action and peace in response to the demands of people who do not want more disputes, conflicts or wars. “Egypt will not fight its brothers, because peace is one of the names of God,” he said, adding: “We are not willing to enter into war with our brothers or with anyone… our peoples deserve every single penny.” He continued: “Egypt doesn’t conspire. We don’t conspire, neither do we meddle in the internal affairs of anyone and we are very, very keen to have a very good relationship.” Sisi underlined that spending on the development of the Egyptian armed forces had nothing to do with the country’s will to achieve peace. “Spending on the armed forces is for the sake of achieving Egyptian national security and in accordance with security concepts that require a military capability to protect the Egyptians and preserve peace,” he stated. Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki meanwhile denied claims about the presence of Egyptian troops at the Sawa base bordering Sudan. He instead accused parties in Sudan and Ethiopia of trying to create a clash between Khartoum and Asmara. Meanwhile, Sisi is expected to present the achievements of his first presidential term on Wednesday before doors are opened for candidates to submit their bids for the presidency on Saturday. Presidential hopefuls have ten days to submit their candidacies. In this context, the president of the Reform and Development Party, Anwar Sadat, went back on his decision to run in the elections because of what he said was an “inappropriate political climate.” During a press conference on Monday, Sadat said that he was “not reassured that the elections would be held in the way we wish them to be” and he will not fight a “losing battle.”