Egypt to Host Conference for Sudan’s Civilian Political Groups in June

The summit of Sudan’s Neighboring States held in Cairo in July 2023 (Egyptian Presidency)
The summit of Sudan’s Neighboring States held in Cairo in July 2023 (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt to Host Conference for Sudan’s Civilian Political Groups in June

The summit of Sudan’s Neighboring States held in Cairo in July 2023 (Egyptian Presidency)
The summit of Sudan’s Neighboring States held in Cairo in July 2023 (Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt will host a conference next month bringing together Sudanese civilian political groups to produce an agreement on ways to build a comprehensive and permanent peace, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The conference will be held with the participation of relevant regional and international partners, the ministry said in statement.

The aim of the conference is to reach a consensus among the various Sudanese civilian political groups on ways to build comprehensive and lasting peace in Sudan through a Sudanese-Sudanese national dialogue based on a purely Sudanese vision, it noted.

Sudan has been gripped since April 202 by a civil war between the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

The conflict has displaced nearly 6 million people within Sudan, and driven over 2 million people into five neighboring countries, according to UN estimates.

The ministry said Egypt’s invitation comes from a firm belief that the current conflict in Sudan is primarily a Sudanese issue, and that any future political process should include all active national parties on the Sudanese scene, and within the framework of respecting the principles of Sudan's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, non-interference in its internal affairs, and preserving the state and its institutions.

The invitation, it added, comes within the framework of Egypt's keenness to make all possible efforts to assist Sudan in overcoming the crisis it is facing and addressing its serious repercussions on the Sudanese people and the security and stability of the region, especially Sudan's neighboring countries.

“This is in light of the deep historical, social, fraternal and deep ties that bind the Egyptian and Sudanese peoples together and based on Egypt's commitment to supporting all efforts to achieve peace and stability in Sudan,” the ministry said.

It affirmed that the conference is part of Cairo’s ongoing efforts and endeavors to stop the war in Sudan, and within the framework of cooperation and integration with the efforts of regional and international partners, especially Sudan's neighboring countries, the parties to the Jeddah talks, the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League, and the IGAD organization.

Therefore, the ministry said that Egypt looks forward to the active participation of all Sudanese civil political forces and relevant regional and international partners, and to join hands to ensure the success of the conference in achieving the aspirations of the Sudanese people.

Dr. Amani Al-Taweel, director of the African program at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, stressed the importance of Egypt’s decision to host the conference.

She told Asharq Al-Awsat the invitation is based on Cairo's involvement in efforts to solve the crisis in Sudan, through its hosting of the Neighboring States Summit and a meeting of the Sudanese political forces.

Also, she added, this invitation comes after Cairo welcomed last March former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who represents a Sudanese bloc different from the forces that had met in Egypt.

“Egypt is therefore qualified to play an important role in the next phase, especially amid its ongoing consultations with the US envoy to Sudan and with regional partners, mainly Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” Al-Taweel said.

Former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Ali al-Hafni hoped Cairo’s invitation will be welcomed by all Sudanese forces.

“The upcoming conference will provide the right conditions and place to bring the Sudanese parties around one table with hopes to reach an understanding and put an end to the internal strife, stop the bloodshed, allow the return of displaced Sudanese, and facilitate the delivery of aid,” al-Hafni told Asharq Al-Awsat.



UN Food Agency Says Its Food Stocks in Gaza Have Run out under Israel’s Blockade

A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
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UN Food Agency Says Its Food Stocks in Gaza Have Run out under Israel’s Blockade

A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)

The World Food Program says its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory.

The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days.

Some 80% of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israel’s blockade, according to the UN. The WFP has been supporting 47 kitchens that distribute 644,000 hot meals a day, WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told the Associated Press.

It was not immediately clear how many kitchens would still be operating in Gaza if those shut down. But Etefa said the WFP-backed kitchens are the major ones in Gaza.

Israel cut off entry of all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza on March 2 and then resumed its bombardment and ground offensives two weeks later, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. It says the moves aim to pressure Hamas to release hostages it still holds. Rights groups have called the blockade a “starvation tactic” and a potential war crime.

Israel has said Gaza has enough supplies after a surge of aid entered during the ceasefire and accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its purposes. Humanitarian workers deny there is significant diversion, saying the UN strictly monitors distribution. They say the aid flow during the ceasefire was barely enough to cover the immense needs from throughout the war when only a trickle of supplies got in.

With no new goods entering Gaza, many foods have disappeared from markets, including meat, eggs, fruits, dairy products and many vegetables. Prices for what remains have risen dramatically, becoming unaffordable for much of the population. Most families rely heavily on canned goods.

Malnutrition is already surging. The UN said it identified 3,700 children suffering from acute malnutrition in March, up 80% from the month before. At the same time, because of diminishing supplies, aid groups were only able to provide nutritional supplements to some 22,000 children in March, down 70% from February. The supplements are a crucial tool for averting malnutrition.

Almost all bakeries shut down weeks ago and the WFP stopped distribution of food basics to families for lack of supplies. With stocks of most ingredients depleted, charity kitchens generally can only serve meals of pasta or rice with little added.

World Central Kitchen -- a US charity that is one of the biggest in Gaza that doesn’t rely on the WFP -- said Thursday that its kitchens had run out of proteins. Instead, they make stews from canned vegetables. Because fuel is scarce, it dismantles wooden shipping pallets to burn in its stoves, it said. It also runs the only bakery still functioning in Gaza, producing 87,000 loaves of pita a day.

The WFP said 116,000 tons of food is ready to be brought into Gaza if Israel opens the borders, enough to feed 1 million people for four months.

Israel has leveled much of Gaza with its air and ground campaign, vowing to destroy Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. It has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

In the Oct. 7 attack, gunmen killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. They still hold 59 hostages after most were released in ceasefire deals.