Egypt primary goal is to safeguard Sudan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity: FM Abdelatty to UN envoy

Ahram Online , Thursday 14 Nov 2024

Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty stressed Thursday to Ramtane Lamamra, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, that Egypt’s primary objective in its efforts is to safeguard Sudan’s interests and preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

FM to UN envoy
Egypt FM Abdelatty meets UN envoy Lamamra

 

Abdelatty's remarks came during his meeting in Cairo with the UN envoy, where they discussed the latest developments in the Sudanese crisis and ways to overcome it, according to a statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Egypt’s top diplomat reiterated Cairo’s commitment to actively engaging in various regional and international efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a settlement in Sudan, alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Moreover, he reviewed Egypt’s efforts to contain the escalation and achieve peace in Sudan, including hosting the Sudan Neighbouring Countries Summit in July 2023 and the meeting of Sudanese political and civil forces in July 2024.

The minister also reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to enhancing coordination with the UN envoy to ensure the success of his critical mission, expressing Egypt’s readiness to fully support the United Nations in restoring security and stability in Sudan.

Last week, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s unwavering support for Sudan’s national institutions, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, rejecting any interference in its internal affairs, during a press conference with Sudan’s newly appointed counterpart Ali Youssef Ahmed Al-Sharif.

Abdelatty also indicated that developments in Sudan naturally impact Egypt due to the close ties between the two nations.


FM Abdelatty warmly greets UN envoy Lamamra

Refugee influx
 

Abdelatty expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan, underscoring Egypt’s dedication to providing complete care for many displaced Sudanese by offering essential services, including health and education.

Since the conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023, thousands of Sudanese refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, including Egypt.

On Sunday, Christine Bishay, associate external relations officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Egypt, stated that hundreds of Sudanese refugees continue to enter Egypt daily, adding to the over 1.2 million already sheltered there.

Of these, 546,746 are officially registered with the UNHCR, making Sudanese refugees two-thirds of Egypt's 827,644 registered refugees.

On Friday, the UNHCR recognized Egypt as the largest host country for Sudanese refugees, noting that this influx has placed significant pressure on Egypt’s resources and infrastructure.

Hanan Hamdan, UNHCR representative to the Government of Egypt and the League of Arab States, stated that Egypt's burden is unsustainable and urgently requires substantial international assistance to protect and support those affected by the Sudanese conflict.

Sudanese refugees are joined by individuals from 95 other countries, including Syria, South Sudan, and Eritrea.

In June, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly urged the World Bank's managing director, Anna Bjerde, for a “clear cooperation mechanism” to help Egypt support millions of migrants and refugees.

In April, at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Madbouly also stated that Egypt spends $10 billion annually to support refugees and migrants within its borders.

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