Presidents Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his counterpart President Salva Kiir engaged in ongoing and productive talks on Monday concerning the Sudanese crisis and its regional implications, particularly for neighboring nations, with Egypt and South Sudan at the forefront.
Both presidents agreed to intensify efforts and communication with relevant parties within Sudan to find urgent solutions to the crisis and spare the Sudanese people further suffering and turmoil, El-Sisi revealed in a joint press conference held at the presidential palace Monday afternoon after their talks in Cairo.
They also extended invitations to various Sudanese factions, urging them to prioritize Sudan’s national interests over individual interests or external interventions that might exacerbate the situation and prolong the crisis.
Recognizing the pivotal roles that Egypt and South Sudan play in the Sudanese crisis, the leaders stressed the importance of not overlooking this fact in any initiative or effort aimed at resolving the crisis.
They also emphasized that both countries have a deep understanding of the crisis’s nature and tribal complexities.
Both highlighted the significance of the neighbouring countries’ approach and the outcomes of their meetings in settling the crisis.
As of November 2023, over 5.8 million people have been displaced from their homes, including more than 3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan and over 2.8 million refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries due to the non-stopping fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April.
Water cooperation
The discussions also covered enhancing cooperation between the two nations in the fields of water resources and irrigation, with a focus on maximizing the utilization of the Nile River’s resources. Egypt reaffirmed its vision that the Nile River should be a source of cooperation and development, serving as a lifeline for all the peoples of the Nile Basin countries.
The leaders addressed developments related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the ongoing negotiation process to reach a binding legal agreement on its filling and operation.
El-Sisi also reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to standing by South Sudan and its people, particularly in terms of capacity building and the provision of technical expertise across various sectors.
He commended South Sudan’s political factions for their efforts in advancing the electoral process and reiterated Egypt’s complete support for the government in meeting the legitimate aspirations of the South Sudanese people for peace, stability, and development.
According to the South Sudanese presidency, aside from discussing various aspects related to cooperation between Cairo and Juba, the situation in Sudan and its civil war were among the top issues to be discussed besides the situation in Gaza.
The visit to Egypt occurred within a short span of less than six months since President Kiir and several regional leaders convened in Cairo in July 2023 for the Sudan Neighbours Summit, which aimed to devise effective mechanisms for achieving a peaceful resolution to the situation in Sudan through both regional and international efforts.
