CAIRO – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told CIA Director John Ratcliffe on Sunday that Sudan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national institutions must be preserved, reaffirming Cairo’s opposition to any move that could undermine the country’s unity.
The meeting, attended by Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, included discussions on the Sudan crisis and coordination between Cairo and Washington as part of broader talks on regional developments, according to the Egyptian presidency.
El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s position that Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity are fundamental principles that cannot be compromised. He also stressed Egypt’s support for international and regional efforts aimed at ending the war, easing humanitarian suffering and advancing a political settlement.
The Egyptian position follows talks days earlier between El-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in which Egypt and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed support for Sudan’s security and stability and rejected equating the Sudanese Armed Forces with militias or parallel entities, according to the Egyptian presidency.
The two sides also said any threat to Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity would pose a risk to the collective security of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
Ratcliffe, according to the Egyptian account of the meeting, stressed the importance of continued coordination and consultation between the relevant authorities in Egypt and the United States over the Sudan crisis.
Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after tensions over the political transition and plans to integrate the paramilitary force into the army.
The conflict has displaced millions of people, damaged health facilities and basic services, and severely disrupted economic activity across the country.
Sudan shares a long land border with Egypt and lies along the Red Sea, making the conflict a direct security and humanitarian concern for Cairo, which has also received Sudanese people fleeing the war.
Egypt has repeatedly linked its Sudan policy to preserving the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while supporting efforts to end the fighting and restore political stability. El-Sisi has previously described Sudan’s security, unity and sovereignty as a “red line” for Egypt.
The presidency did not announce a new joint initiative on Sudan following Sunday’s meeting, nor did it provide detailed steps or a timetable for the political process.
