Former Egyptian Official: Egypt’s Presence in the Quartet Safeguards Sudan’s Interests
Cairo – Sudanhorizon – Sabah Moussa
The former Egyptian Foreign Ministry official in charge of Sudanese Department, Ambassador Hosam Eissa, explained that the recent visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdel-Atti to Port Sudan, comes within the framework of ongoing consultations between the leaderships of the two countries.
The diplomat who served as Egyptian ambassador to Khartoum, stated in an exclusive statement to the Sudanhorizon on Wednesday Abdel-Atti’s visit to Port Sudan should be seen within the context of several local, regional, and international developments.
He added that one of these developments is the expansion of the Sudanese army’s victories from the Nile region to Kordofan and Darfur, where several important cities in Kordofan were liberated, and the army succeeded in lifting the siege of Fasher and carried out a successful air drop of aid supplies to the city’s residents.
Eissa pointed out that the visit comes after the meeting of the international quartet (USA, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE), New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings. He also said that it comes within the context of recent developments regarding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), as a result of the Ethiopian opening of the dam’s gates without prior coordination with Sudan, as well as the voluntary return of Sudanese citizens from Egypt to their cities and villages.
He referred to Egypt’s role in rehabilitating the Shambat and Halfa bridges, developing the Wadi Halfa port, and other numerous projects that Egypt will undertake in Sudan in the coming phase.
He added that the visit aims to reaffirm Egypt’s support for the Sudanese state and army, and to work towards a humanitarian ceasefire and lifting the siege of Fasher to allow aid to reach the city’s residents.
He also mentioned the invitation extended to Gen. Al-Burhan to visit Egypt at the end of this month for the inauguration of the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the preparation for several bilateral issues such as the Joint Economic Committee and the Egyptian-Sudanese Business Council.
The former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister emphasized that the visit came at a crucial time, reflecting a message that Egypt remains steadfast in its unwavering support for the Sudan.
He stressed that Egypt’s presence in the Quartet is to uphold these principles, supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces and ensuring that their victories are reflected in any settlement agreement.
He stated that Egypt’s presence is a source of reassurance for those who support the Sudanese army, and a safeguard against the Quartet producing agreements that do not reflect the military situation or attempt to undermine Sudanese state institutions.
He referred to the previous Quartet (US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and UK), from which Egypt was excluded, noting that it was this group that pushed Sudan into an agreement that led to the current situation.
He added that Egypt’s presence in any international forum regarding Sudan is part of coordinating positions between the two countries. He explained that before any Quartet meeting or other international forum, there is coordination between Egypt and Sudan, which explains the frequent visits between officials of the two countries.
He affirmed that Egypt reflects the positions and interests of the Sudanese state, and that its position is clear: it accepts the choices of the Sudanese people and deals with whomever they choose.
Issa clarified that the statement of the Quartet refers to those who committed crimes, whether Islamist or otherwise, and that this matter is the responsibility of Sudanese state institutions, primarily the judiciary.
He noted that the practices of the previous regime over thirty years led the international community to distrust Islamists. He stressed that this issue must be handled wisely to avoid returning to square one.
He added that the international community is concerned about this movement and its policies, while emphasizing that Egypt does not advocate exclusion, nor does it interfere in the domestic choices made by Sudanese people, whether regarding policies or individuals; this is solely a matter for the Sudanese people themselves.
Regarding the consequences of the recent opening of the gates of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Issa stated that Sudan has witnessed firsthand everything that Egypt had warned about regarding this dam and the problems it would cause.
He added that Ethiopia’s unilateral and self-serving approach will inevitably lead to negative impacts, and that Sudan has seen this since the first filling of the reservoir in 2020.
This pattern of opening the dam’s gates without coordination with Sudan has also been repeated in previous years.
He added that this is Ethiopia’s typical approach with its neighbors, based solely on its own interests, even if it harms its neighbors. He cited Ethiopia’s actions regarding the Assab port in Eritrea and its attempts to establish a naval base in Somaliland as examples.
He further added that Ethiopia’s stance on water issues with Kenya, Somalia, and others confirms its role as a “bad neighbor,” comparing this to Israel’s behavior in the region. He stated that both countries disregard the interests and national security of their neighbors, pursuing their own objectives through illegitimate means, which demonstrates extreme short-sightedness.
He concluded by saying that history always teaches us that those who try to have everything end up losing everything.
Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=7892