Leaders of Libya, Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, and Eritrea on Thursday met in Cairo on invitation of Egyptian President Abdelfattah el-Sisi to discuss ways to end the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
In a communique following the meeting, the Sudan neighbors “emphasized full respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, non-interference in its internal affairs, dealing with the existing conflict as an internal matter.”
They also emphasized “the importance of the non-interference of any external parties in the crisis in a way that hinders efforts to contain it and prolongs its duration.”
The summit further called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the military operations.
“We call upon the warring parties to stop the escalation and commit to an immediate and sustainable ceasefire to end the war and avoid the loss of lives of innocent civilians among the Sudanese people and the destruction of property,” the communique said.
The leaders also expressed concern about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Sudan.
They called on the international community to provide assistance to the millions of people who have been displaced by the conflict.
The summit concluded by calling for the preservation of the Sudanese state and its institutions.
The leaders warned that the disintegration or fragmentation of Sudan would have “extremely dangerous repercussions” on the security and stability of the region, especially the neighboring countries.
The communique was signed by the leaders of Sudan’s neighboring countries: the Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, and South Sudan.