In a series of tweets on Monday, Moussa noted that the ongoing bloody confrontations and overall deterioration and cracks in the political, social, and military structures in Sudan “pose a serious threat to the future, independence, unity, and security of the country.”

The 86-year-old veteran diplomat emphasised that the stability of the African continent and the Arab world, as well as Egypt's vital interests, are all at risk due to the ongoing crisis in the Arab/African country.

He said he expects a dynamic policy from Egypt including active rounds by all levels of Egyptian diplomacy, in public and in private, on the Arab and African arenas.

Such a policy, he added, "would secure a major position for Egypt in the course of events and defeat attempts to exclude it" from current efforts of communication and consultations.

Egypt-Sudan: Common interests

"The integration of Egypt and Sudan is imposed by nature in parallel of common interests, even if it [the integration] was spoiled by wrong policies since the 1950s, as well as foreign schemes that saw any strong rapprochement between them [Egypt and Sudan] as a threat to their interests in the African continent and the south of the Arab World," Moussa said.

Egypt has a clear and central role in helping Sudan avoid the repercussions of the current situation. he said.

"Some Arab interests may conflict with Egypt's deeper interests in Sudan, and the same applies in Africa.  Hence, Egypt is expected to take a clear and bold stand, as our vital interests in that entire region have become threatened and are at stake," Moussa said.

"Frankness is important with our brothers [in Sudan] and others who have been active on the Sudan issue, especially recently," Moussa said.

Moussa also warned of the possibility of Ethiopia taking advantage of the situation, which could exacerbate the problem of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) for Egypt.

On Monday, for the third day in a row, Khartoum and other parts of Sudan awoke to heavy fighting between the Sudanese Armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The fierce clashes have left 100 dead and hundreds injured and exacerbated an already tenuous humanitarian situation in the country.

On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and South Sudan President Salva Kiir expressed their willingness to mediate between the Sudanese parties to defuse the situation.

Also on Sunday, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Sameh Shoukry briefed the Chair of African Union Commission Moussa Faki on Egypt's efforts to deescalate the crisis in Sudan ahead of Faki's scheduled visit to Khartoum on Monday.

Egypt has called for the immediate cessation of military operations in Sudan and the prioritisation of dialogue, stressing that it “is imperative that no external party attempt to exploit Sudan’s current situation by carrying out actions that further exacerbate the conflict or undermine the country’s territorial integrity.”