Sudanese Foreign Minister to Sudanhorizon: “Our Final Position on the Turkish Initiative Will Be Based on the Walk, not the Talk.”

Cairo – Sudanhorizon – Sabah Musa

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ambassador Ali Youssef revealed progress on visa facilitation for Sudanese citizens residing in Gulf countries traveling to Egypt, as well as for Sudanese students and patients heading to Egypt.
In exclusive remarks to the Sudanhorizon news platform, Youssef stated that he discussed the importance of granting visas to Sudanese nationals with official Gulf residency permits with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdel Aty. He emphasized that these individuals live in the Gulf and only visit Cairo to check on their families, arguing there is no reason to hesitate in granting them visas. The Egyptian side immediately promised these facilitations.
Youssef added that issuing visas at Egyptian embassies in the Gulf is preferable to issuing them at Cairo Airport to avoid complications that could result in travellers being sent back. He expressed his gratitude to Egypt for this responsiveness.
Additionally, he noted that they requested expedited visas for Sudanese students already enrolled in Egyptian universities but are still waiting for their visas despite the academic year starting. The Egyptian side promised to prioritize such cases from Port Sudan. Similar facilitations were requested for patients seeking medical treatment in Egypt, with the Egyptian consulate in Port Sudan directed to expedite visa processing for students and patients. These measures are expected to be implemented in the coming days.
Youssef highlighted concerns about the lengthy and costly residency processes in Egypt, noting that the Egyptian Foreign Minister promised to review and address these issues soon.
On the Turkish Initiative and Relations with the UAE
Youssef mentioned an upcoming visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s envoy to Port Sudan next week regarding the Turkish initiative to mediate the Sudan-UAE conflict. He stated that he sees no issue with the UAE Foreign Ministry’s statement or Sudan’s response to it, describing strong positions as normal.
He emphasized that the issue cannot be resolved through statements alone, reiterating Sudan’s welcoming stance toward Turkey’s mediation efforts and Erdoğan’s involvement. He affirmed that Sudan’s final position on the Turkish initiative will depend on the substance of the proposal, stating, “We cannot reject it before knowing its content.”
On Egypt’s Role and IGAD Membership Suspension
When asked about a potential Egyptian initiative to resolve the Sudan-UAE conflict, Youssef said that Egypt is deeply concerned with Sudan’s situation and is committed to the unity, safety, and stability of Sudanese territory, as well as preserving state institutions, particularly the armed forces. He stressed that the Sudanese crisis is of primary concern to Egypt, which is making significant efforts to resolve it.
He also mentioned an upcoming visit by an envoy from IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) to Port Sudan. However, Youssef pointed out that Sudan suspended its membership in IGAD for well-known reasons and demanded an apology for the events at the IGAD summit. He warned that the situation will remain unchanged if an apology is not forthcoming.