Egypt and Türkiye Agree on Regional Issues, Pledge to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (L) attend a joint press conference after their meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, 04 February 2025. (EPA)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (L) attend a joint press conference after their meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, 04 February 2025. (EPA)
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Egypt and Türkiye Agree on Regional Issues, Pledge to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (L) attend a joint press conference after their meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, 04 February 2025. (EPA)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (L) attend a joint press conference after their meeting in Ankara, Türkiye, 04 February 2025. (EPA)

Egypt and Türkiye reiterated their commitment to boosting bilateral relations and coordinating closely on key regional issues, including securing a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, ending hostilities in Sudan, stabilizing the Horn of Africa, supporting political processes in Libya and Syria, and combatting terrorism.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan received in Ankara on Tuesday his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty.

Fidan stressed the importance of Egyptian-Turkish cooperation, stating: “Collaboration between Türkiye and Egypt is essential. Our partnership will contribute to the prosperity of our peoples and the stability of the region.”

He added: “We are working closely with Egypt to end the conflict in Sudan before Ramadan. We also share a common vision on ensuring Libya’s stability and are in discussions about fostering peace in the Horn of Africa.”

Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Abdelatty described his talks with Fidan as extensive and constructive, particularly regarding Sudan, where both sides agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire, the priority of a political solution, preserving the country’s sovereignty and supporting efforts to restore stability and peace.

He briefed Fidan on his recent visits to Port Sudan and Egypt’s ongoing efforts to safeguard Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity.

Discussions also covered developments in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, with both ministers stressing their commitment to preserving Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Fidan briefed Abdelatty on Türkiye’s latest mediation efforts between Somalia and Ethiopia, hoping the negotiations between the two countries would resume this month in a way that supports Somalia’s stability and territorial integrity.

The talks also addressed water security, which Abdelatty described as an existential issue for Egypt.

He emphasized Egypt’s strong desire to deepen cooperation with Türkiye, expand bilateral ties and contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East. “We will continue working together in ways that serve the interests of our two nations and promote security and stability in the region and across Africa,” he stated.

He also announced ongoing preparations for the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council between Egypt and Türkiye, following its inaugural meeting during Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Ankara on September 4. The next meeting is set to take place during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Egypt next year.

Abdelatty and Fidan also discussed energy and tourism cooperation, with the Egyptian FM highlighting a notable increase in tourism between their countries.

At the conclusion of the visit, Egypt and Türkiye issued a joint statement, underscoring their commitment to strategic cooperation and addressing bilateral relations and regional issues of mutual interest.

The statement emphasized both countries’ endeavor to improving the investment climate for private sector investors and pledged to increase trade volume to $15 billion through enhanced economic and industrial cooperation.

Both nations welcomed the ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange deal in Gaza, commending the mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States. They also reiterated their commitment to ensuring the full implementation of the agreement.

Furthermore, the two ministers underscored the importance of maintaining the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), emphasizing that its role in supporting Palestinian refugees in the occupied territories is indispensable. They urged Israel to reverse any measures that undermine UNRWA’s operations.



UN Seeks $6 Billion to Ease Hunger Catastrophe in Sudan

Displaced Sudanese, who fled the Zamzam camp, gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 14, 2025. (AFP)
Displaced Sudanese, who fled the Zamzam camp, gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 14, 2025. (AFP)
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UN Seeks $6 Billion to Ease Hunger Catastrophe in Sudan

Displaced Sudanese, who fled the Zamzam camp, gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 14, 2025. (AFP)
Displaced Sudanese, who fled the Zamzam camp, gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 14, 2025. (AFP)

UN officials on Monday asked for $6 billion for Sudan this year from donors to help ease what they called the world's worst ever hunger catastrophe and the mass displacement of people brought on by civil war.

The UN appeal represents a rise of more than 40% from last year's for Sudan at a time when aid budgets around the world are under strain, partly due to a pause in funding announced by US President Donald Trump last month that has affected life-saving programs across the globe.

The UN says the funds are necessary because the impact of the 22-month war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - that has already displaced a fifth of its population and stoked severe hunger among around half its population - looks set to worsen.

World Food Program chief Cindy McCain, speaking via video to a room full of diplomats in Geneva, said: "Sudan is now the epicenter of the world's largest and most severe hunger crisis ever."

She did not provide figures, but Sudan's total population currently stands at about 48 million people. Among previous world famines, the Bengal Famine of 1943 claimed between 2 million and 3 million lives, according to several estimates, while millions are believed to have died in the Great Chinese Famine of 1959-61.

Famine conditions have been reported in at least five locations in Sudan, including displacement camps in Darfur, a UN statement said, and this was set to worsen with continued fighting and the collapse of basic services.

"This is a humanitarian crisis that is truly unprecedented in its scale and its gravity and it demands a response unprecedented in scale and intent," UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said.

One of the famine-stricken camps was attacked by the RSF last week as the group tries to tighten its grip on its Darfur stronghold.

While some aid agencies say they have received waivers from Washington to provide aid in Sudan, uncertainty remains on the extent of coverage for providing famine relief.

The UN plan aims to reach nearly 21 million people within the country, making it the most ambitious humanitarian response so far for 2025, and requires $4.2 billion - the rest being for those displaced by the conflict.