CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Chairman Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan held talks in Cairo on Thursday, focusing on the latest developments in Sudan and ways to support the Sudanese people amid the ongoing conflict. Both leaders emphasized the need to stop violations against civilians and to hold those responsible accountable.
Egypt reiterates firm support for Sudan’s unity
According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, President el-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering commitment to Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, expressing Cairo’s readiness “to exert every possible effort” to help end the ongoing crisis and assist the Sudanese people in overcoming the dire humanitarian situation brought about by the conflict.
The meeting addressed recent field and humanitarian developments across Sudan, with both leaders underscoring the urgency of halting crimes and abuses committed against civilians as the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues in several regions since April 2023.
For his part, Gen. al-Burhan expressed deep appreciation for Egypt’s continuous support for Sudan, describing it as a reflection of the “deep-rooted fraternal relations” between the two nations. He commended Cairo’s ongoing efforts to end the conflict and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining Sudan’s unity and sovereignty.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Sudan, Mawia Othman Khalid, said in remarks carried by the Sudan News Agency that the two leaders held “comprehensive bilateral discussions reviewing the eternal ties between the two countries and ways to strengthen and elevate them.”
He added that both presidents directed government agencies in Cairo and Khartoum to deepen coordination on key issues, particularly in security, water resources, trade, and economic cooperation to the benefit of both peoples.
Reviving the joint defense agreement
Khalid further announced that both sides agreed to reactivate joint cooperation mechanisms, including the 1976 Joint Defense Agreement between Egypt and Sudan, amid the growing regional security challenges. The agreement, a long-standing pillar of military cooperation between the two states, has been complemented by further defense accords, the most recent signed in March 2021.
He noted that Cairo and Khartoum renewed their mutual determination to work closely with regional and international partners, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and former U.S. President Donald Trump, to ease the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and to ensure the safe delivery of aid through secure corridors.
Cairo warns of crossing “red lines”
In a separate statement, the Egyptian presidency declared that certain “red lines” must not be crossed with regard to developments in Sudan, stressing that any attempt to undermine the country’s unity poses a direct threat to Egypt’s national security, given the deep interconnection between the stability of both nations.
The statement voiced Egypt’s grave concern over the escalating violence and human rights violations occurring in several parts of Sudan, particularly in the city of El-Fasher in Darfur.
Cairo reaffirmed that preserving Sudan’s unity, territorial integrity, and state institutions is a red line, warning against any efforts to divide the country or legitimize parallel authorities.
The presidency further emphasized Egypt’s right, under international law and the Joint Defense Agreement with Sudan, to take the necessary measures to protect both nations’ security and stability against any direct threats.
Deteriorating situation on the ground
These statements come as fighting intensifies between Sudan’s army and the RSF across multiple fronts, especially in the states of Darfur and Kordofan.
U.N. estimates suggest the conflict—which erupted in April 2023—has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced nearly 13 million people, making it one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Reports indicate that the Rapid Support Forces currently control most of Darfur’s five states, except parts of North Darfur, while the Sudanese army maintains control over the remaining 13 states, including the capital, Khartoum.
A pivotal visit in critical times
Burhan’s visit to Egypt, his first in several months, came at a decisive time as part of diplomatic efforts to revive political dialogue and stabilize Sudan amid the prolonged conflict. The trip also underscored a growing strategic convergence between Cairo and Khartoum to reinforce regional security and prevent the conflict from spilling over national borders.
Observers note that Egypt’s heightened diplomatic engagement reflects its strategic priority to protect Sudan’s territorial unity, viewing any potential state collapse as a direct threat to regional stability and to Egypt’s own national interests in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa.
