Abdel-Aty in Port Sudan… The Visit’s Objectives and Implications
Cairo –Sudanhorizon– Sabah Moussa
Egyptian Foreign Minister, Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, on Tuesday concluded a brief visit to Port Sudan on , his fourth since assuming office in July 2024, underscoring the depth and strength of the relationship between the two countries.
The Depth of the Relationship
During his meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has reaffirmed the depth of Sudanese-Egyptian relations, pointing to the enduring and historical ties that bind the two peoples. He expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Egypt, government and people, for their support to the Sudan in all regional and international forums, and for their commitment to Sudan’s safety, security, stability, and sovereignty. He emphasized the shared will of both countries to advance cooperation in all fields.
Support for Sudan
Abdel-Aty stated that he conveyed to Gen. Burhan a message of support and solidarity from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, emphasizing the deep fraternal ties between the two peoples. He stressed Egypt’s principled stance in support of Sudan, its unity and sovereignty, and the preservation of the Sudanese people’s resources.
Abdel-Aty added that the meeting addressed bilateral relations and ways to support and develop them in the political, economic, and trade fields, as well as the shared destiny that unites the two countries, particularly in the area of water security, given that both are downstream Nile River states. He noted the convergence of positions between the two countries regarding the issue of water security, considering it an existential issue for both nations.
Egypt’s Follow-up
Badr Abdel-Aty said that he listened to an explanation from the Chairman of the Sovereign Council regarding the development on the ground and the humanitarian situation. He reiterated Egypt’s support for Sudan and its national institutions, including the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), expressing his wishes for lasting peace and stability for the Sudanese people. He affirmed that President Sisi is closely following development of relations with Sudan in a way that serves the interests of the people of the Nile Valley.
Concerted Efforts
Abdel-Aty, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the horrific atrocities recently committed in El Fasher, reiterating Egypt’s solidarity and full support for Sudan in these critical circumstances, particularly for the Government of National Accord headed by Dr. Kamil Idris. He stressed the need of launching a humanitarian corridor to ensure the unhindered delivery of aid, alongside increasing the volume of relief support and strengthening coordination with international organizations, given the tragic deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
He also emphasized the importance of concerted regional and international efforts to support a comprehensive ceasefire and create the conditions for launching an inclusive political process that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people for security, stability, and development. He affirmed the necessity of adhering to the statement issued by the Quartet on September 12th and pushing for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, preventing any attempts to divide the country or harm its national institutions. He noted Egypt’s ongoing efforts to support Sudan, both through the provision of relief aid across the joint border and through continuous coordination with the United Nations and the African Union to expedite the delivery of aid to the most affected areas.
A Critical Time
The Egyptian Foreign Minister’s visit to Port Sudan comes at a critical juncture for Sudan following the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. This has effectively derailed any efforts toward a shared vision for peace in the country. The visit also aims to facilitate consultations and bridge differing viewpoints on how to implement the ceasefire proposed by the Quartet in Sudan, particularly in light of the fall of El Fasher. Egypt hopes this visit will continue its efforts to find a way out of the Sudanese crisis, efforts that began even before El Fasher’s capture. However, the Sudanese government appears to have concerns about the RSF due to its history of violating ceasefires, repositioning itself, and acquiring further logistical and military support. It is possible that Abdel-Aati carried guarantees and a vision for securing the ceasefire in the event of a breach. Egypt’s objective with this ceasefire is to find a way to stop the fighting and save civilians from this protracted war. This is being pursued through consultations with the Sudanese side, not by imposing any vision on the Sudanese, as some suggest. Rather, bilateral consultations are underway to reconcile the Sudanese vision with the international one, in an attempt to save civilians. However, popular pressure in Sudan may frustrate the acceptance of a truce with the militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and may make the government’s flexibility difficult at this time.
Difference Diversion
Anyone following Sudanese affairs recently, after El Fasher, will notice the promotion by some of the idea that the government has secretly entered into negotiations with the RSF militia, and that it is not announcing this to the Sudanese people. The primary purpose of this may be to divert attention and focus on the RSF’s violations and massacres in El Fasher, and to exploit the significant trust between the Sudanese public and its armed forces. The truth, which is being obscured, is that there were simply discussions taking place between the Sudanese government and the Quartet before the fall of El Fasher, at the Quartet’s own request, to bridge the gap between the Sudanese and international perspectives. These were not direct or indirect negotiations with the RSF, as some are claiming, but rather discussions about the idea of negotiation. It seems that the fall of El Fasher has derailed these discussions.
So what did the Egyptian Foreign Minister bring in his briefcase to Port Sudan, and how did the Sudanese administration respond?
A Message of Solidarity
Ambassador Hossam Issa, former Assistant Foreign Minister and head of the Sudan file at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, believes the visit comes at a time when Sudan is witnessing serious developments following the fall of El Fasher, the continuation of humanitarian tragedies including the killing and burning of civilian bodies, and the ongoing displacement of people.
Issa told Sudanhorizon that the visit aims to reflect Egyptian solidarity with Sudan in light of these serious military developments in the country, noting the current threats to some cities in Kordofan and the North, and the continued targeting of Sudanese cities with drones, as happened recently in Omdurman and Atbara, demonstrate that the militia is still capable of posing a threat to the cities.
The Quartet is present.
Issa expected the Quartet to be a key topic on the visit’s agenda, especially given the Rapid Support Forces’ acceptance of a ceasefire. He ruled out the Sudanese government’s acceptance of a ceasefire in the near future, stating that there are no indications from the Sudanese side to confirm this, and that all signs point to a continued military campaign. He added that if there were any indications of accepting a ceasefire, the government would have prepared public opinion, but there are no such indications. He emphasized that Egypt is not imposing any views on Sudan, stating that Egypt is simply explaining its position and the international stance, and ultimately, the decision rests with the Sudanese people.
A difficult time.
For his part, Ambassador Salah Halima, Deputy Chairman of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, believes that the visit comes at a difficult time, following the developments in El Fasher and the formation of a parallel government.
Halima told Sudanhorizon that after El Fasher, there are fears of partition, and that there is a risk of Darfur seceding with its potential, its wealth, rare minerals, and its strategic location bordering a large region, which poses a significant threat to Sudan. He explained that the Egyptian Foreign Minister’s visit at this time was intended to send a message that Egypt will not accept partition, based on its unwavering commitment to preserving Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity. He added that the second message Egypt wants to emphasize is its reaffirmation of its steadfast position in supporting Sudanese institutions, especially the armed forces, which are confronting a rebel militia that has committed all stypes of violations in the country.
The Egyptian Vision
Halima pointed out that all these factors surrounding the Sudanese scene are pushing Egypt to encourage Sudan to accept a road-map for resolving the crisis. He said that this new road-map will be centered on the Egyptian vision, built on military, political, and humanitarian tracks, and focused on reconstruction. He stressed the necessity of a political horizon with the participation of all Sudanese political forces without exclusion. He explained that the Egyptian vision stipulates the separation of political and military forces as a condition for their acceptance in the political process. He said that the Rapid Support Forces have no option but disarmament and demobilization or integration, and there is no alternative to accepting this after the political forces agree to it in their dialogue.
The Difficulty of a Truce
Halima saw difficulty in implementing the proposed truce in isolation from the four-party framework, which he linked to the previous Egyptian vision and the necessity of starting from it. He emphasized that Egypt seeks to change the situation in the military, political, and humanitarian aspects to preserve the unity of Sudan and reach a settlement, a civilian government for a one-year term, a transitional constitution, and then free and fair elections in which the Sudanese people decide who they choose.
Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=8690