Egypt Calls on Int’l Donors to Fulfill Pledges to Support Sudan, Refugee-Hosting Countries

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with his Sudanese counterpart Hussein Awad in Cairo, 23 July, 2024. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with his Sudanese counterpart Hussein Awad in Cairo, 23 July, 2024. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt Calls on Int’l Donors to Fulfill Pledges to Support Sudan, Refugee-Hosting Countries

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with his Sudanese counterpart Hussein Awad in Cairo, 23 July, 2024. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with his Sudanese counterpart Hussein Awad in Cairo, 23 July, 2024. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt on Tuesday called on international donors to swiftly fulfill their pledges to support Sudan, and its neighboring refugee-hosting countries after millions of Sudanese have been displaced due to the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

“Egypt is in ongoing talks with donor countries and humanitarian organizations to urge them to share the burden with Sudan’s caretaker government and neighboring countries,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said during a meeting with his Sudanese counterpart Hussein Awad in Cairo.

Since the conflict erupted in Sudan in mid-April 2023, some 10 million have been displaced within the country or have fled into neighboring countries, making it the largest displacement crisis globally, according to UN statistics.

Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's unwavering support for the stability and safety of Sudan and its people, stressing Cairo's commitment to helping the Sudanese people overcome political, security, and humanitarian challenges caused by the ongoing war.

Early this month, Egypt hosted the Sudanese Political and Civil Forces Conference aimed at ending the war in the country.

According to the Egyptian FM, the Conference affirmed the need to maintain state institutions, deliver aid to Sudan and its neighbors, and ensure Sudanese control over the political process.

A Foreign Ministry statement said during their meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, Abdelatty and Awad reviewed the latest progress of the ongoing Egyptian development projects in Sudan, such as the electrical interconnection project and the reconstruction and development of Wadi Halfa Port.

Abdelatty pledged Egypt's continued commitment to completing these projects, the statement noted.

He called on international donors to quickly fulfill their pledges made at the conferences in Geneva and Paris to support Sudan, its neighboring refugee-hosting countries, and the UN humanitarian response plan.

Abdelatty said Egypt is in ongoing talks with donor countries and humanitarian organizations to urge them to share the burden with Sudan’s caretaker government and neighboring countries.

Egypt has received more than half a million of Sudanese fleeing the war, in addition to more than 5 million Sudanese who already reside in Egyptian cities, according to Egyptian government estimates.

For his part, the Sudanese minister thanked Egypt for the facilities and services provided to Sudanese citizens since the crisis began, including health and educational services, according to the Egyptian statement.

He also praised Egypt’s initiatives aimed at resolving the Sudanese crisis.

Abdelatty and Awad touched on several regional issues such as the situation in the Horn of Africa, the Gaza Strip crisis, the Red Sea security, the situation in Libya, and the Sahel–Saharan region.

They also discussed the dispute caused by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), reaffirming the unified stance of both countries on water security.



Former Arab League Chief Nabil El-Arabi Dies at 89

Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Former Arab League Chief Nabil El-Arabi Dies at 89

Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League, died in Cairo on Monday at the age of 89. His distinguished diplomatic career spanned over 50 years, marking him as one of Egypt’s top diplomats.
El-Arabi graduated from Cairo University in 1955 with a law degree, then earned a master's in international law and a doctorate from New York University School of Law. He was a legal advisor to President Anwar Sadat during the peace talks with Israel.
He led the Egyptian team in negotiations to resolve the Taba dispute with Israel from 1985 to 1989, resulting in Egypt regaining the territory. El-Arabi also advised the Sudanese government on a border dispute with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
From 2001 to 2006, El-Arabi was a judge at the International Court of Justice after serving on the UN International Law Commission. He was involved in various legal committees, including the UN Compensation Commission in Geneva and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
El-Arabi served as Egypt’s ambassador to India and as Egypt’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva and New York.
His most notable role came after the January 25, 2011 events when he became Egypt’s foreign minister for a few months before being appointed Secretary-General of the Arab League.
He served a single term before stepping away from politics.
During his time at the Arab League, he focused on resolving Arab conflicts and strengthening the League’s role in regional politics.