The Egyptian presidency stated in a statement today, Thursday, that "President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed with First Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Burhan, the Commander of the Sudanese Army, in Cairo, the developments in Sudan and the efforts to restore stability and maintain the sovereignty, unity, and cohesion of the Sudanese state and its institutions." The statement mentioned that the meeting addressed "the developments in Sudan" amid the ongoing conflict for over 10 months between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. Sisi assured Burhan, who is also the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council in Sudan, of Egypt's commitment to provide necessary humanitarian support "to alleviate the humanitarian impacts" resulting from the conflict, to which Burhan expressed his appreciation, noting that this "support reflects the enduring historical ties that bind the two brotherly countries, as evidenced by Egypt's role in welcoming Sudanese citizens and mitigating the effects of the crisis."
The war in Sudan erupted in April of last year due to disagreements over the powers of the army and the Rapid Support Forces within an internationally supported plan for a political transition towards civilian rule and elections. The fighting has devastated parts of Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, and has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 people, according to United Nations estimates, sparking warnings of famine and creating a displacement crisis. The Rapid Support Forces control most areas of Khartoum and western Sudan and face allegations of committing ethnic cleansing, having recently made rapid military advances that raised concerns about the potential disintegration of the country. This is Burhan's second visit to Egypt since the outbreak of the war, following a visit in August which was his first foreign trip since the clashes began in April.
