CAIRO – Sudan’s de facto Sovereign Council Chairman, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, held bilateral talks on Tuesday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo. The high-level meeting focused on strengthening relations between the two neighboring countries, ways to enhance cooperation across various fields, and the latest developments in Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
According to the Sudanese de facto Sovereign Council media office, both leaders underscored the depth and resilience of the historical ties between Sudan and Egypt, emphasizing the importance of consolidating and advancing them in the interests of both peoples. They also discussed mechanisms for joint coordination on regional issues of mutual concern.
Members of the Port Sudan government accompanied General Burhan, Foreign Minister and Minister of International Cooperation, Ambassador Mohieddin Salem Ahmed, and the Director of the General Intelligence service, General Ahmed Ibrahim Mufaddal.
During the talks, the two sides reviewed regional and international efforts aimed at ending the war in Sudan, which has entered its third year. They affirmed the significance of the Quartet Mechanism, comprising Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the African Union, in supporting the political settlement process. Both leaders expressed hope that the Quartet’s upcoming meeting in Washington later this month would yield tangible outcomes to help halt the fighting and restore stability in Sudan.
A statement from the Egyptian Presidency said President Sisi welcomed General Burhan to Cairo, praising the “historic and fraternal relations” between the Sudanese and Egyptian peoples. He reiterated Egypt’s full support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, while rejecting any attempts to undermine the country’s stability or weaken its legitimate state institutions.
Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s ongoing commitment to assist Sudan through diplomatic and humanitarian channels, particularly in facilitating regional and international mediation efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire. Both presidents stressed that dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving the crisis and alleviating the suffering of millions of civilians affected by the war.
The meeting also touched on the contentious Nile River issue, particularly Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. Both leaders renewed their joint rejection of any unilateral measures taken on the Nile that disregard international law or threaten the rights of downstream nations. They affirmed their identical positions on the GERD file and their shared determination to safeguard the two countries’ common water rights.
Egypt has been closely monitoring the situation in Sudan since the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023. Cairo has repeatedly expressed its unwavering support for Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity and its opposition to foreign interference or any attempt to fragment the country.
In addition to its political engagement, Egypt has played a central humanitarian role throughout the crisis, working to open safe corridors for aid delivery and hosting hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees who fled the conflict. Egypt officials have also been engaged in regional diplomacy, seeking to align efforts by neighboring states and international partners to bring an end to hostilities and promote a durable peace settlement.
The Cairo meeting marked a continuation of Egypt’s active diplomacy regarding Sudan’s war, reaffirming its stance as both a key mediator and stakeholder directly affected by Sudan’s instability. For Khartoum, the visit signaled General Burhan’s intention to maintain strong ties with Egypt amid an increasingly complex regional landscape, as efforts intensify to find a political solution to one of Africa’s most devastating conflicts.
