Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty meets Head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan in Port Sudan. Photo: Egyptian foreign ministry
During a meeting in the city of Port Sudan, both sides addressed the water security issue, reaffirming the unity of their stance as the two downstream countries of the Nile.
Earlier Wednesday, Abdelatty blamed a lack of coordination over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) for the severe flooding in Sudan, adding that the failure to coordinate the GERD's operation has led to "horrific floods" in Sudan.
Speaking to Al Arabiya Al Hadath TV channel on the sidelines of the Munich Leaders Meeting in the Saudi city of Al Ula, the Egyptian FM accused Ethiopia of flagrantly violating international law, noting that talks over the Ethiopian controversial dam's operation had reached a deadlock.
Abdelatty's remarks came a day after Sudan's irrigation ministry also attributed the recent rise in White Nile water levels, which flooded several villages in South Khartoum, to heavy rainfall in Ethiopia and water releases from the GERD.
On 9 September, Egypt sent a letter to the UN Security Council (UNSC) denouncing Ethiopia's inauguration of the GERD, saying the project remains a unilateral venture that violates international law with no consequences affecting the legal regime of the Eastern Nile Basin.
Sudan war
According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, Abdelatty and Al-Burhan also addressed the latest developments in Sudan.
The Egyptian FM affirmed Cairo's ongoing efforts to achieve stability in Sudan, as well as its support for Sudan's unity, security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as its national institutions, foremost among them the Sudanese Armed Forces.
He emphasised Egypt's commitment to actively engage in efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Sudan, securing a humanitarian truce, and alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Abdelatty noted that his third visit to Port Sudan within a year reflects the depth of Egyptian-Sudanese relations and affirms Cairo's support for Khartoum amid the delicate circumstances the country is going through.
He highlighted the facilities Egypt provides for Sudanese residents and its efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of Sudanese citizens to their homeland once conditions stabilise.
During the meeting, Abdelatty affirmed Egypt's historical ties with Sudan, looking forward to developing bilateral relations in various fields, particularly in the economic and trade areas.
For his part, Al-Burhan expressed his appreciation to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, as well as his gratitude for Egypt's sincere positions in support of Sudan. He also praised the fraternal and historical relations between the two nations.
On 12 September, Egypt joined Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the US in a joint call to end the war in Sudan, pressing for a ceasefire, easing the humanitarian crisis, and laying the groundwork for a peaceful political settlement.
The war in Sudan, now in its third year, has devastated the country, killing tens of thousands, displacing more than 15 million people, and creating what the UN describes as the world's most significant displacement and hunger crises.
During his visit to Port Sudan, Abdelatty is scheduled to meet with several senior Sudanese officials to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.
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