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Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamil Idris arrived in Cairo on Thursday morning, marking his first official visit abroad since taking office in May, amid an ongoing war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Idris, a seasoned diplomat and former United Nations official, held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his visit, according to a statement from Egypt’s presidency.
Sisi reiterated “Egypt’s steadfast position supporting the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan,” the statement said.
Since conflict broke out in April 2023, Egypt has consistently backed Sudan’s military leadership. The war began after a fragile alliance between the army and the RSF collapsed, leading to widespread fighting. The RSF initially seized significant parts of the capital, Khartoum, but the army retook control of the city in March.
The country remains divided, with the Sudanese army controlling the north, east and centre, while the RSF holds most of Darfur and areas in the south.
During his Cairo trip, Idris also met with Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly. At a joint press conference, Idris noted that there is “consensus” between Egypt and Sudan on “key regional and international issues.”
The conflict in Sudan has led to tens of thousands of deaths, millions of displacements, and what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst displacement and hunger crises.
Efforts to broker peace have largely failed. A recent ministerial meeting in Washington, which included the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, stalled due to disagreements between Cairo and Abu Dhabi over the roles of the warring factions, according to two diplomatic sources who spoke to AFP.
While Egypt remains a strong supporter of Sudan’s army, the UAE—though a close ally of Egypt—has been widely accused of backing the RSF by supplying arms in violation of a UN embargo on Darfur. Abu Dhabi has denied these allegations.
Meanwhile, the RSF has begun laying the groundwork for a rival administration in western Sudan, a move the United Nations has warned could deepen the country’s internal divisions.
Critics of Sudan’s transitional government say the new civilian-led administration under Idris risks becoming a facade for ongoing military dominance.
