Sisi, South Sudan’s Security Adviser affirm need to encourage permanent Sudan ceasefire

Ahram Online , Tuesday 9 May 2023

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and South Sudan’s Presidential Adviser on Security Affairs Tut Gatluak highlighted the need to encourage the Sudanese parties to consolidate truce and move to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

South Sudan’s Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs Tut Gatluak (L) hands a message from President Salva Kiir to Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in a meeting in Egypt, 9 May 2023. Egyptian Presidency

Gatluak handed El-Sisi a message from South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to review developments in Sudan, and consult on efforts of settling the crisis in order to preserve the Sudanese people’s security and integrity, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said in a statement.

Kiir’s message also addressed means of enhancing bilateral relations between both countries.

Reaching a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Sudan would allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and relief, and pave the way to launch a dialogue in order to find a solution to the ongoing disputes as well as settle the crisis, El-Sisi and Gatluak affirmed.

This would prepare the grounds for the continuation of the transitional track and the political process in a way that preserves the unity and coherence of the Sudanese state, fulfills the aspirations of its people, and safeguards the country’s supreme interests, they asserted.

The meeting between El-Sisi and Kiir’s security adviser took place as Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry had started his trip on Monday heading to Chad. Shoukry is also expected to arrive shortly to South Sudan for coordination on the Sudanese crisis and to meet with President Silva Kirr.

In Chad, Shoukry delivered a message from El-Sisi to Sisi’s Chadian counterpart, President Mahamat Idriss Déby, which discussed Chad and Sudan’s neighbouring countries’ role in supporting efforts to stop the ongoing fighting.

Egypt, Sudan’s northern neighbour, has been pushing for a ceasefire to the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which killed hundreds since mid-April and caused tens of thousands of Sudanese to flee the country amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Egypt has so far welcomed more than 56,000 Sudanese and nationals of other countries, and has evacuated over 7,800 Egyptians from Sudan who were fleeing the conflict.