According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Egypt is home to approximately half a million registered refugees and asylum-seekers from 62 nationalities. As of October 2023, Sudanese nationals have become the largest group, followed by Syrians. Read more.
Report from Big News Network By Xinhua Dated Friday, 01 March 2024, 05:30 GMT+11 - here is a copy in full
Egyptian president, Sudanese army chief discuss efforts to stabilize Sudan
CAIRO, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and the visiting General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan met on Thursday in the Egyptian capital Cairo to discuss joint efforts aimed at settling the ongoing crisis in Sudan, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
Sisi reiterated Egypt's commitment to supporting Sudan's unity, settling its ongoing conflict and alleviating the humanitarian repercussions of the conflict on the Sudanese people.
Al-Burhan, who is also chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council, expressed his gratitude to Egypt for its supportive role in addressing the crisis and hosting Sudanese citizens.
Resolving the current crisis is crucial for restoring stability, preserving the sovereignty, unity, and cohesion of the Sudanese state and its institutions, the statement read.
The conflict in Sudan between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted on April 15, 2023. Cairo has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to stop the war in Sudan, including hosting a summit of Sudan's neighboring countries in July 2023.
According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Egypt is home to approximately half a million registered refugees and asylum-seekers from 62 nationalities. As of October 2023, Sudanese nationals have become the largest group, followed by Syrians.
Report from SIS (Egypt State Information Service) Published Thursday 13 July 2023; 07:41 PM - here is a full copy:
Communique of Sudan’s Neighboring States Summit
Upon the invitation of H.E. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the heads of state and governments of the Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya and South Sudan, with the presence of the Chairman of the African Union Commission and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, met in Cairo on July 13, 2023 to attend the “Sudan’s Neighboring States Summit”. They discussed various aspects of the situation in Sudan and deliberated on possible solutions to end the crisis. The leaders agreed on the following:
1- Expressing their deep concern regarding the ongoing military confrontations and the continuous deterioration of the security and humanitarian situations in Sudan. The leaders called on the parties to the conflict to de-escalate the situation and commit to an immediate and sustainable cease-fire to end the war, and avoiding further loss of innocent civilian Sudanese lives and destruction of property.
2- Affirming their full respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan. The leaders agreed that the current conflict is an internal Sudanese affair, and stressed the need for ending any external interferences in the crisis. Such interferences protract the conflict and obstruct efforts to contain its escalation and reach an agreed settlement that will restore stability and security in Sudan.
3- Reiterating the importance of preserving the Sudanese State and its institutions, and preventing the fragmentation of the country, or descent into chaos that could lead to the spread of terrorism and organized crime, and other serious impacts on the national security of neighboring states and overall regional stability.
4- Stressing the utmost priority of formulating a comprehensive approach to addressing the current crisis and its humanitarian ramifications, including pertaining to those internally displaced and the growing influx of refugees fleeing the conflict to neighboring states, a challenging situation that creates growing pressure on the resources of neighboring states. The leaders called on the international community and donor countries to shoulder their responsibility through upholding pledges made at the “Ministerial-level Pledging Event to Support the Humanitarian Response in Sudan and the Region”, attended by Sudan’s neighboring states on June 19, 2023.
5- Expressing grave concern regarding the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sudan, and condemning the repeated attacks on civilians, healthcare facilities and public services outlets. The leaders also called on the international community to step up efforts to provide crucial humanitarian aid, and to address urgent shortages in food and medical supplies in Sudan, as a measure towards alleviating the serious hardships caused by the crisis on innocent civilians.
6- Agreeing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid provided to Sudan through the territories of neighboring states, in coordination with relevant international agencies and organizations, and to strongly promote the establishment of safe passage for aid deliveries to the most affected and vulnerable areas. In this context, the leaders urged various Sudanese parties to provide the necessary protection for humanitarian assistance and personnel and to facilitate their mission in delivering assistance to those in need.
7- Emphasizing the pressing need for a political solution to stop the ongoing conflict. To this end, the leaders called for an inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue between Sudanese parties, prioritizing the aspirations and prosperity of the Sudanese people through the restoration of stability and security to the country.
8- Agreeing to form a Ministerial Mechanism comprised of foreign ministers of Sudan’s neighboring states to coordinate common efforts to resolve the current conflict. The Ministerial Mechanism shall hold its first meeting in N’Djamena and will be mandated to take the following measures:
A- Develop an action-plan that includes practical steps towards stopping the fighting and reaching a comprehensive solution to the crisis through direct communication with various Sudanese parties, in complementarity with the existing mechanisms, including the IGAD and AU.
B- Discuss measures required to address the impact of the crisis on the future of Sudan’s stability, unity and territorial integrity, as well as to protect and preserve Sudan’s national institutions. The Ministerial Mechanism shall also discuss steps to contain the negative effects of the crisis on neighboring states, and agree on a delivery mechanism to provide humanitarian aid and relief to the Sudanese people.
C- The Ministerial Mechanism shall present its recommendations to the next Sudan’s Neighboring States Summit.
Report from SABC News (South African Broadcasting Corporation)
Published Saturday 15 July 2023, 1:32 PM - here is a full copy:
Sudan’s Vice President calls for international assistance for internal peace
Image: Reuters
Sudanese Transitional Military Council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo meets leader of Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, Malik Agar in Juba
The Vice President of Sudan Malik Agar says the international community must assist Sudan to achieve peace. Agar believes that Sudan’s problems are more internal than external.
The ceasefires have failed to yield results, and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has now announced that his country will bring the warring factions together.
Speaking exclusively to SABC, Agar, who is in South Africa for consultations with government officials, has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to redouble his efforts at the African Union to bring peace to that country.
Vice President Malik Agar pleads with SA to intervene in Sudan conflict:
This week, the UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres issued a warning that Sudan has reached a crisis in relation to the escalating conflict in that country.
Agar goes on to describe how peace agreements are being dishonored, which leads to a vicious cycle of violence, as well as how Sudanese diversity is mismanaged. He says there is a lack of a social justice policy, which leads to regional disparities.
The Vice-President acknowledges the presence of foreign elements interfering in Sudan, with diverse objectives such as economics, security, reinvestment, and military interests. He says that the protracted conflict will force the Sudanese people to reconsider their country’s management and reclaim power.
Note, this report says "the acting government of Sudan, the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), as well as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) welcomed the results of Sudan's Neighbouring Countries Summit".
Report from Ahram Online Published Saturday 15 July 2023 - here is a full copy:
Arab countries welcome communique of Sudan’s Neighbouring States Summit in Egypt
A number of Arab countries have welcomed the final communique of the Sudan’s Neighbouring States Summit held in Egypt on Thursday as a step towards reaching a peaceful solution to the Sudanese crisis.
This handout picture released by the Egyptian Presidency shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C), accompanied by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (C-L) and intelligence chief Abbas Kamel (C-R) attending a regional summit for neighbouring nations impacted by the three-month war between Sudan s rival generals in Cairo on July 13, 2023. AFP
The summit in Cairo brought together Egypt, Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, along with the secretary-general of the Arab League and the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson, about three months after the conflict erupted in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The summit has agreed on eight points mentioned in the communique, most notably the formation of a ministerial mechanism comprising the foreign ministers of Sudan’s neighbours to address the conflict, which has had severe impacts on regional countries.
Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Oman, Tunisia, Yemen, Palestine and Sudan have welcomed the communique, hailing Egyptian efforts in hosting the summit.
In a statement on Friday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the communique as an “important step that is part of the regional and international endeavours aiming to stop the fighting in the sisterly Republic of the Sudan with dialogue and peaceful means.”
The Qatari state looks forward to seeing the outcomes of the summit and other endeavours pave the way for a permanent resolution to the armed conflict in Sudan, the ministry stressed.
Expanded negotiations including all political forces in Sudan should follow the ceasefire in order to reach a sustainable peace that fulfills the aspirations of the Sudanese people for stability, development and prosperity, the ministry added.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the communique, affirming the importance of reaching a ceasefire and resolving the conflict peacefully through dialogue.
President El-Sisi Participates in the Final Session of Sudan’s Neighboring Countries Summit
Jordan also voiced support for all efforts towards a solution to the Sudanese crisis, including the summit in Cairo, said the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said.
The Omani Foreign Ministry, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs all expressed appreciation for Egypt's efforts in hosting the summit, called for an immediate end to the fighting, and for security, peace and dialogue in Sudan.
In a statement from the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Yemen hailed the great and fruitful efforts led by Egypt's President El-Sisi at the summit as a means to ending the bloodshed and fulfilling the Sudanese people’s aspirations to achieve peace and prosperity.
Meanwhile, the acting government of Sudan, the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), as well as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) welcomed the results of Sudan's Neighbouring Countries Summit.
The crisis in Sudan has significantly affected the country’s neighbours, which have received hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees over the past three months.
Thursday’s summit warned that prolonging the crisis will result in an increasing number of refugees, overwhelming the capabilities of neighbouring countries.
NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: Here is news of some swift shuttle diplomacy occurring over 24 hrs on Mon-Tues between Egypt, Chad and South Sudan: Egyptian Foreign Minister Mr Sameh Soukri, considered by many as a lion of diplomacy, delivered a letter in person from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Chadian PresidentMahamat Idriss Deby in N'Djamena, Chad and then on Tuesday morning he jetted to South Sudan's capital Juba to deliver President El Sisi's letter to South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and to listen to ideas from President Kiir on ways to strengthen coordination to meet the challenges arising from the Sudanese situation.
Dated Tuesday 09 May 2023 - full copy including typos:
UPDATED: Egypt and South Sudan bear a special responsibility towards Sudan: Shoukry in Juba
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said that Egypt and South Sudan bear a special responsibility towards Sudan, stressing that the suffering of the brotherly Sudanese people must be alleviated.
Sudanese fleeing conflict put pressure on South Sudan, Egypt: Dau Deng and Shoukry to press. Screenshot
Shoukry's comments came during a press conference with South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Deng Dau Deng in the South Sudan capital Juba on Tuesday.
The two top diplomats talked to reporters after holding a meeting to discuss the ramifications of the ongoing conflict in Sudan on both countries and coordinate efforts to end it.
"Egypt and South Sudan are working to achieve stability in the region," Shoukry told reporters.
For his part, Dau Deng said that "the influx of Sudanese people fleeing violence in their country is putting pressures on its immediate neighbours."
“All international efforts to end the conflict need to be coordinated for the benefit Sudanese people,” Dau Deng said.
The South Sudan top diplomat added that Shoukry’s visit is very crucial to his country since "the two countries have a shared focus on reaching peace in Sudan."
Earlier in the day, Shoukry delivered a message in person from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.
During the press conference, Shoukry noted that he listened to new ideas from President Kiir on ways to strengthen coordination to meet the challenges arising from the Sudanese situation.
“I will convey President Kiir's ideas to President El-Sisi. We will continue to coordinate on ways to resove the crisis as well as deal with its humanitarian impact on both Egypt and South Sudan,” Shoukry said.
President El-Sisi stressed in his message to the President Kiir on the need to reach a a permanent ceasefire in Sudan, explained Shoukry.
Meanwile, Dau Deng stressed during the press conference that "any continuation of the war in Sudan will put pressure on our countries."
For his part, FM Shoukry noted that Egypt has received 70,000 Sudanese citizens through its southern borders since the start of the conflict in mid-April.
He stressed that the current conflict requires that Sudan’s immediate neighbours consult on a continuous basis to work toward ending the ongoing fighting and ameliorate its impacts on them.
The top Egyptian diplomat also highlighted the importance of taking the necessary actions to coordinate politically or economically for the best interest of both peoples of Egypt and South Sudan.
Shoukry's visit to Juba comes a day after he delivered a letter in person to Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby as part of Egyptian shuttle diplomacy to coordinate regional efforts to end the conflict in Sudan.
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