Sudan’s Burhan meets Egyptian intelligence chief amid army gains

April 8, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – The head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereignty Council and army commander-in-chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, held talks on Tuesday in Port Sudan with Egypt’s General Intelligence chief, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad.

The visit by Egypt’s intelligence chief takes place amid significant military progress by the Sudanese army, which has asserted control over most of Khartoum state and all of Sennar and Al Jazirah states after expelling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from these areas.

Egypt’s ambassador to Sudan, Hani Salah, said on Monday that Cairo was ready to contribute to Sudan’s reconstruction, including rehabilitating vital facilities such as bridges in Khartoum and the Merowe Dam in northern Sudan.

The Sovereign Council’s media office said in a statement that Rashad conveyed a verbal message to Burhan from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi “concerning bilateral relations, ways to support and develop them, and enhancing joint cooperation between the two countries in all fields.”

During the meeting, the statement added that Burhan praised Egypt’s “leading role” in supporting Sudan, citing the historical and fraternal ties between the two countries. He deeply appreciated Egypt’s government and people under Sisi’s leadership.

Burhan stressed the importance of strengthening Sudanese-Egyptian relations to serve the common interests of the “two brotherly peoples,” according to the statement.

Since the conflict erupted on April 15, 2023, around 1.5 million Sudanese have fled to Egypt out of 3.9 million who crossed into neighbouring countries. Some have returned after the army recaptured areas, including Khartoum, Al Jazirah, and Sennar.