Egypt, Saudi Arabia warn against treating Sudan army and RSF as equals
September 15, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Egypt and Saudi Arabia have warned against treating the Sudanese Armed Forces and rival militias as equals, backing the primacy of the country’s military institutions in an explicit signal to regional and international peace mediators.
The joint position emerged from talks in Cairo on Tuesday between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
War erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, driving millions from their homes and triggering famine conditions across parts of the country.
Egyptian presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy said both leaders rejected placing the armed forces on equal footing with any militias or parallel entities, affirming that national state institutions must retain exclusive legitimacy.
The joint statement warned that any fragmentation of Sudan or threat to its territorial integrity represents a direct risk to the collective security of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and neighbouring states.
The declaration reflects Cairo’s close backing of Sudan’s regular military and marks an important shift in Riyadh’s diplomatic messaging, as it has co-sponsored intermittent peace talks in Jeddah in which both belligerents were engaged as warring parties.
Sudan’s army-led sovereign council has repeatedly refused initiatives that put it on par with the RSF, accusing the paramilitary force of widespread atrocities, including ethnic killings in Darfur, systematic looting, and sexual violence.
The RSF has consistently denied carrying out systematic abuses, blaming rogue actors and accusing the military of indiscriminate air strikes on civilian infrastructure.
During their meeting, Sisi and Prince Mohammed also addressed broader regional security concerns, including threats to shipping lanes in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Strait of Hormuz.