Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Wednesday renewed their support for the “Quad Mechanism,” comprising Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United States, and United Arab Emirates, describing it as a key framework for achieving a ceasefire and reaching a political settlement to the conflict in Sudan.
Meeting in Cairo, the two leaders underscored the “unity of stance” between Egypt and Sudan and stressed their shared interests regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. They agreed to step up consultations and joint coordination to protect their respective water rights.
Last month, the Quad held a ministerial meeting in Washington, where participants stressed the need to intensify efforts to end the armed conflict in Sudan, protect civilians, safeguard infrastructure, ensure humanitarian access, and maintain stability in the Red Sea region.
Cairo and Khartoum voiced hopes that the next Quad meeting, set to take place in Washington later this month, would deliver tangible progress toward ending the war.
The talks between el-Sisi and al-Burhan addressed developments in Sudan, as well as international and regional mediation efforts. El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s firm support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, rejecting any attempts to undermine its stability or create parallel authorities.
Egypt has previously rejected the “parallel government” announced by Rapid Support Forces, which Cairo considers a militia. In March, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed its opposition to any moves that threaten Sudan’s unity or sovereignty.
The Quad members have repeatedly pledged their commitment to restoring peace in Sudan, alleviating the suffering of its people, and working with African, Arab, and international partners to achieve these goals.
Both leaders expressed their expectation that the upcoming Washington meeting in October would help pave the way for a ceasefire and lasting stability. On the bilateral front, they reaffirmed their rejection of any unilateral measures on the Blue Nile in violation of international law and emphasized their aligned positions on the Ethiopian dam, agreeing to deepen coordination to defend their water interests.
Ethiopia inaugurated the dam on September 9, amid strong objections from Egypt and Sudan, which are demanding a legally binding agreement on its operation.
El-Sisi has criticized what he called “reckless management” of the dam, saying irregular water releases have harmed downstream countries. He called for stronger international and African efforts to reach a binding legal deal on filling and operating the dam.
