Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (right) meets with US envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello in Cairo (Egyptian press)

Today, Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks with the American envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, to discuss ways to achieve a permanent ceasefire between the Sudanese parties.

A statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the meeting comes within the framework of Perriello's first visit to Cairo, where the two parties met to discuss the situation in Sudan.

Perriello is on a regional tour to discuss ways to resolve the crisis in Sudan, without mentioning the details or duration of this tour.

On February 26, the US State Department announced the appointment of Perriello as a special envoy to Sudan, with the aim of supporting efforts to end “hostilities”, ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, and support the Sudanese people.

Egypt rejects foreign interference

Shoukry expressed his gratitude for Perriello's visit to Cairo on his first foreign tour after his appointment to the position, and provided him with an overview of Egyptian contacts with all parties, stressing the importance of stopping the escalation and reaching a sustainable ceasefire agreement.

Shukry affirmed Egypt's position rejecting any external interference in the Sudanese crisis, stressing the importance of dealing with the conflict in Sudan as a purely Sudanese matter, without the interference of external parties that hinder efforts to resolve it.

He also stressed the importance of any future political initiative including all national actors in the Sudanese arena, and that this process be carried out in accordance with the principles of respecting Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, non-interference in its internal affairs, preserving the integrity and unity of the state and its institutions, and preventing its disintegration.

He pointed to "Egypt's continued efforts to provide the necessary support to the Sudanese people since the beginning of the crisis, as Egypt received more than half a million Sudanese citizens, in addition to the presence of more than 5 million other Sudanese living in Egypt without discrimination."

For his part, Envoy Perriello stressed the US administration’s awareness of the importance of Egypt’s role and influence in the region, and the centrality of its role in any future solution to the Sudanese crisis, according to the statement.

The need to continue consultation and coordination between the two countries during the next stage was also stressed.

Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) have been waging fierce battles, which have so far resulted in the deaths of about 13,900 people and the displacement of more than 8 million people, according to the United Nations.

Source: Anadolu Agency