Sudan’s New PM to Visit Juba

FILE PHOTO: Sudan's new Prime Minister in the transitional government Abdalla Hamdok, speaks during a Reuters interview in Khartoum, Sudan August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sudan's new Prime Minister in the transitional government Abdalla Hamdok, speaks during a Reuters interview in Khartoum, Sudan August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo
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Sudan’s New PM to Visit Juba

FILE PHOTO: Sudan's new Prime Minister in the transitional government Abdalla Hamdok, speaks during a Reuters interview in Khartoum, Sudan August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sudan's new Prime Minister in the transitional government Abdalla Hamdok, speaks during a Reuters interview in Khartoum, Sudan August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok chaired on Tuesday the first cabinet session since coming into office last month, listing ten priorities in the 200 days of the transition into civilian rule.

Information Minister Faisal Mohamed Saleh confirmed that the priorities included stopping war and building a just and comprehensive peace, tackling the economic crisis, repealing laws restricting freedoms, ensuring the independence of the judiciary, achieving transitional justice, forming an independent commission to investigate crimes, combating corruption, strengthening the role of women and youth, restructuring the state, and building balanced foreign relations.

“It was agreed to establish a balanced foreign policy based on the independence of Sudan and taking into account the common interests,” Saleh told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

“There was also serious discussion on the issue of ensuring the promotion of women's rights, taking measures to ensure their effective participation, and reforming of state apparatuses,” he added.

As for the African state’s centralization, Saleh said that ties between regional authorities and the central administration will also be revised alongside other proposed governance structures.

Saleh revealed that Hamdok will travel to Juba, South Sudan’s capital, this week, his first official overseas trip since becoming premier after the ouster of president Omar al-Bashir.

South Sudan had split from the north in 2011. The two countries have yet to resolve some pending border disputes and trade concerns after the bulk of oil earnings of erstwhile Sudan went to South Sudan following the split.

“He (Hamdok) will be accompanied by a delegation including the ministers of interior, foreign affairs, energy and mining, and commerce and industry,” Saleh told reporters, adding that the two-day visit is to emphasize the close relations between Sudan and South Sudan.

Sudan's transitional government has made peacemaking with rebels in Juba and elsewhere one of its main priorities as it is a key condition for the country's removal from the US sponsors of terrorism list.



Egypt Outraged Over Israeli Push to Move Palestinians to Border

Egyptian army chief visits near Israeli border late last year – military spokesman
Egyptian army chief visits near Israeli border late last year – military spokesman
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Egypt Outraged Over Israeli Push to Move Palestinians to Border

Egyptian army chief visits near Israeli border late last year – military spokesman
Egyptian army chief visits near Israeli border late last year – military spokesman

Egypt has strongly condemned what it sees as Israeli policies aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians towards its borders, warning such actions pose a direct threat to its national security, an informed Egyptian source told Asharq al-Awsat.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said Israel’s handling of the Gaza conflict indicates a lack of seriousness in reaching a ceasefire agreement or engaging in meaningful efforts to resolve the crisis.

“Cairo is alarmed by attempts to push Palestinians toward Egyptian territory and set up tent encampments near the border,” the source said, calling the move “a threat to Egypt’s national security.”

The comments came as Israeli media reported that Egypt had warned Israel against expanding military operations in Rafah.

According to Israel’s Channel 7, Egypt’s security delegation involved in the ongoing Gaza ceasefire talks expressed strong opposition to Israel’s proposed military deployment map, citing its implications for Egyptian sovereignty and security.

Israel’s Channel 13 reported that Cairo views Israel’s plan to establish a “tent city” for displaced Palestinians near the Egypt-Gaza border as a “ticking time bomb.”

The plan, which envisions relocating hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the area, has heightened Egyptian concerns over a potential refugee crisis on its doorstep.

The Israeli channels said Egypt’s increased military presence in Sinai, particularly in Zone C, where military activity is limited under the 1979 peace treaty, was intended as a message to Israel.

Egypt may also reassess the peace agreement if Israeli actions are deemed to constitute a clear violation of the treaty.

Cairo warns of breach of peace deal

Egyptian national security and international relations expert Major General Mohamed Abdel Wahid said Egypt “categorically rejects any Israeli military presence along the Egyptian-Palestinian border,” including Israel’s control of the Philadelphi Corridor and Rafah. “This is a breach of the peace treaty,” he said.

“Egypt has previously warned that the peace agreement may be at risk,” Abdel Wahid told Asharq al-Awsat.

“Cairo remains committed to the treaty, but it is clear that Israel is not respecting its obligations and is pursuing its interests at any cost.”

Abdel Wahid accused Israel of deliberately pushing Palestinians toward Egypt’s borders in preparation for a forced displacement plan, saying this would amount to an effective dismantling of the Palestinian cause, something Egypt wholly rejects.

Tensions between Egypt and Israel have reached their highest level since the current war in Gaza began, especially after Israel resumed strikes on the enclave and failed to implement a ceasefire agreement brokered primarily by Cairo. Egypt has also objected to Israel’s continued military control over the Philadelphi Corridor and its refusal to reopen border crossings.

In recent weeks, Egyptian media reported a buildup of troops and heavy weaponry in northern Sinai’s Zone C, a development analysts say signals Cairo’s growing frustration. While the move may stretch the limits of the peace deal, Egyptian sources argue it is a response to Israeli violations.

Tensions political, not military – expert

Major General Sayed Ghoneim, a fellow at the Egyptian Military Academy for Postgraduate and Strategic Studies, said the strain in Egyptian-Israeli ties remains “political and diplomatic - not military.”

“There’s a political disagreement over policies and a diplomatic rift between the two foreign ministries,” Ghoneim told Asharq al-Awsat. “But the defense ministries remain on coordinated terms, particularly in matters related to peacekeeping. Any tensions are being handled through established channels.”

Ghoneim, who also serves as a visiting professor at NATO and the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, noted that one sign of diplomatic tension is Egypt’s refusal to accredit a new Israeli ambassador since the previous envoy left. Egypt also recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv and has not sent him back.

He emphasized that while Israel’s military presence along the Egypt-Gaza border is in violation of the peace agreement and is a core reason for the current political discord, the situation has not escalated into a military confrontation.

Israeli forces seized full control of Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, including the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah crossing, in May 2024. Israel has accused Egypt of failing to stop the flow of weapons into Gaza through tunnels, an allegation Cairo denies.

The 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty prohibits the use or threat of force between the two countries and mandates peaceful resolution of disputes.

It also regulates military deployments along their shared border and established a joint military coordination committee.