Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met Sudan’s transitional Prime Minister Kamil Idris in Cairo on Thursday to discuss ways to bolster strategic ties and support stability in Sudan, the Egyptian presidency said.
Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s “firm position in support of Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity” and pledged “full backing for efforts to restore security and stability, end the current humanitarian crisis, and safeguard the resources of the Sudanese people,” according to the statement.
Talks also addressed ongoing efforts to resolve Sudan’s conflict and explore cooperation in post-war reconstruction.
Sudanese authorities estimate rebuilding will cost about $300 billion for Khartoum and $700 billion for the rest of the country, while the United Nations is preparing its own assessment, Reuters reported in June.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said this week that only 23% of the $4.6 billion global humanitarian response plan for Sudan has been funded.
Observers said Idris’s trip was significant as his first foreign visit, signaling Khartoum’s push for Egyptian backing amid deepening turmoil at home.
Idris also held a joint press conference with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, saying Sudan’s ties with Egypt “will never be broken” and that both sides had agreed on a “comprehensive vision” serving the interests of both nations and future generations. He thanked Egypt for hosting “millions of Sudanese” during what he called the “brutal war” imposed on his country.
Madbouly expressed hope that Sudan would soon emerge from its crisis “to protect the lives of innocents, ease the suffering of the Sudanese people, preserve their resources, and maintain the country’s unity and independence,” rejecting any infringement “under any name or circumstances.”
The two leaders agreed to step up bilateral cooperation through activating joint political, technical and consultative mechanisms, the presidency said.
