Egypt’s top diplomat, UN envoy hold talks on Sudan ahead of Cairo peace meeting

By Fekry Abdeen and Tarek Chouiref

ISTANBUL (AA) – Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met Tuesday in Cairo with Ramtane Lamamra, the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy for Sudan, as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts ahead of an international meeting focused on ending the Sudanese conflict.

The talks were held on the eve of the fifth meeting of the consultative mechanism aimed at strengthening and coordinating peace initiatives for Sudan, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s steadfast support for Sudan, describing the current phase as one of the most sensitive periods in the country’s modern history, and underscoring Cairo’s commitment to working with regional and international partners to help restore stability.

He welcomed Lamamra’s participation in the consultative session scheduled for Wednesday in Cairo and expressed hope that the meeting would generate practical outcomes to advance international efforts toward peace, particularly through coordination with key stakeholders.

The consultative mechanism brings together Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Wednesday’s meeting will also include representatives from the African Union, the Arab League, the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the European Union.

Several countries, including the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, Iraq, Djibouti and Angola, are also taking part.

Abdelatty stressed the importance of preserving Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity, as well as maintaining the country’s state institutions, which he described as essential to restoring security and long-term stability.

Lamamra, for his part, praised Egypt’s role in supporting Sudan, commending its political and humanitarian engagement, including hosting large numbers of displaced Sudanese.

He also highlighted Cairo’s active involvement in efforts to push for a ceasefire and to create conditions conducive to launching a comprehensive political process, in coordination with international and regional partners.

Sudan has been engulfed in a deadly conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over a dispute on integrating the paramilitary force into the national military.

Of Sudan’s 18 states, the RSF controls all five states of the Darfur region in the west, except for some northern parts of North Darfur that remain under army control. The army, in turn, holds most areas of the remaining 13 states in the south, north, east and center, including the capital Khartoum.