Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi welcomed Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo on Thursday. The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral relations and address regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Al-Burhan’s visit underlines Sudan’s commitment to fostering bilateral cooperation with Egypt, as highlighted by Ambassador Muhammad Abdullah Al-Tom, chargé d’affaires of the Sudanese embassy in Cairo.
The diplomatic discussions occurred amidst the year-long conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by Al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Egypt has actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war, advocating for a permanent ceasefire and a political resolution to the conflict.
Egypt played a pivotal role in hosting the Sudan’s Neighbouring Countries’ Summit in July 2023, bringing together leaders from Egypt, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Eritrea, Chad, Ethiopia, Libya, the African Union Commission, and the Arab League. The summit aimed to encourage an end to the ongoing fighting in Sudan.
With nearly eight million people displaced in Sudan, over 1.1 million sought refuge in Egypt and neighboring states, with Egypt alone hosting 458,827 individuals, including 450,000 Sudanese, by the end of January. Egypt’s commitment to providing refuge extends to the five million Sudanese already residing in the country.
Despite rounds of talks between Saudi Arabia and the United States with the warring factions in Jeddah in 2023, only short-term truce deals were brokered, allowing aid delivery but failing to secure a permanent cessation of hostilities.
In press remarks on Thursday, Al-Tom commended Egypt’s ongoing efforts to restore peace in Sudan, emphasizing Egypt’s genuine interest in achieving security and stability in its neighbor.
This meeting builds on previous discussions between El-Sisi and Al-Burhan, with notable encounters in November 2023 at the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh and a prior meeting in Alamein city in August 2023. During these encounters, El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s unwavering support for Sudan at various levels.
