Egypt rejects rival authority in Sudan, backs military-led government
February 23, 2025 (CAIRO) – Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty affirmed Cairo’s support for Sudan’s legitimate government and rejected the formation of any parallel authority in the country, Sudan’s foreign ministry said on Sunday.
Abdelatty’s statement came during a meeting in Cairo with his Sudanese counterpart Ali Youssif, as the two countries held a bilateral political consultation mechanism.
The meeting follows the signing of a founding charter on Saturday by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and 23 allied factions, including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), in Nairobi, Kenya. The charter aims to establish a parallel government in RSF-controlled areas in the coming weeks.
“Egypt rejects any framework or government parallel to the legitimate government in Sudan and any external interference,” the Sudanese foreign ministry said in a statement, quoting Abdelatty.
The Egyptian foreign ministry didn’t explicitly report the rival government’s rejection in a statement released after the meeting.
“The two delegations also discussed the situation in brotherly Sudan. They emphasized the importance of preserving its unity, territorial integrity, independence and respecting its sovereignty and all its national institutions, including the armed forces. They also stressed the importance of non-interference in Sudan’s internal affairs under any pretext, affirming their rejection of any steps that would undermine Sudan’s sovereignty,” stated the foreign ministry in Cairo.
Youssif briefed Abdelatty on the situation in Sudan, highlighting the army’s anticipated victory and the roadmap proposed by the Chairman of the Sovereign Council for forming a government, the Sudanese foreign ministry added.
Sudan’s foreign minister reiterated Khartoum’s rejection of the RSF and its allies’ attempts to divide the country, saying they had “realized their defeat.”
Joint efforts and reconstruction
In a joint statement, the foreign ministries of Sudan and Egypt said the meeting reviewed bilateral relations and stressed the need to enhance their strategic partnership. They also discussed the situation in Sudan, emphasizing the importance of preserving its unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, including respect for its national institutions and armed forces.
Both countries rejected any actions that could undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and called for an end to the war. They emphasized that resolving the crisis is the sole right of the Sudanese people without external interference.
Egypt expressed its willingness to contribute to Sudan’s reconstruction efforts, with both sides welcoming the formation of a joint team to study international reconstruction experiences. They also praised efforts to boost cooperation in electricity and railway interconnection projects.
Furthermore, Sudan and Egypt agreed to strengthen cooperation on protecting their water rights and urged all parties to refrain from unilateral moves that could harm their shared interests. They pledged to continue working with Nile Basin Initiative countries to restore consensus and maintain the initiative as the sole comprehensive cooperation mechanism for all basin states.
Both countries also stressed the importance of enhancing coordination on Red Sea security, adhering to regional security principles, and coordinating with coastal states while rejecting any threats to freedom of navigation.