Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in his openning speech at the Sudanese political and civilian powers in Cairo on Saturday. Photo : Egyptian Foreign Ministry
Speaking at a conference in Cairo that gathered Sudanese political and civil groups on Saturday, Abdelatty emphasized that the current conflict is fundamentally a Sudanese issue that requires a comprehensive political solution.
Any future political process, he asserted, should involve all national Sudanese actors, respect the principles of Sudan's sovereignty and non-interference in its internal affairs, and preserve the Sudanese state and its institutions.
Egypt’s top diplomat urged for an immediate and sustainable cessation of military operations in Sudan to preserve the Sudanese people's resources and state institutions.
He urged all participants in the conference to prioritize Sudan's national interest while affirming Egypt’s unwavering support for all efforts aimed at restoring stability, progress, and prosperity to Sudan.
Furthermore, Abdelatty praised the stance of Sudan's neighbouring countries, who welcomed millions of Sudanese citizens sharing their limited resources despite severe economic challenges.
He also called on the international community to uphold the commitments made at relief conferences held in Geneva in 2023 and Paris in 2024, to address the funding shortfall facing Sudan, estimated at around 75 of the total needs.
Egyptian efforts
Reviewing Egypt's humanitarian efforts since the onset of the Sudanese crisis, Abdelatty noted that the country has received hundreds of thousands of Sudanese, joining nearly five million Sudanese citizens already living in Egypt for many years.
He added that the Egyptian government has provided urgent relief assistance, including food, shelter, and medical supplies, to Sudanese affected by the conflict within Sudanese territories.
Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war since April last year between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Today’s conference is the latest in a series of efforts made by Egypt to address the Sudanese crisis and halt the war there, in cooperation with regional and international partners, especially Sudan's neighbouring countries.
In July 2023, Egypt hosted Sudan’s Neighboring States Summit to discuss various aspects of the situation in Sudan and possible solutions to end the crisis.
The conflict in the country of 48 million has killed tens of thousands, with some estimates putting the death toll as high as 150,000, according to the United States envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello.
According to the UN, over eight million Sudanese have been displaced.
Over 500,000 Sudanese have crossed into Egypt since the war's onset, according to data released by the Egyptian government.
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