Egypt says Sudan's division is a ‘red line’

CAIRO

Egypt considers the division of Sudan a “red line,” the Egyptian foreign minister said, emphasizing the country’s firm stance on the North African country's unity, stability, and territorial integrity.

A brutal conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023 has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of others.

Badr Abdelatty, speaking to Al Sharq News late on Friday, expressed Egypt’s "unwavering support for Sudan’s national institutions."

“We are deeply concerned about Sudan’s unity, its stability, and the integrity of its territories. This is a red line for us, and we cannot accept it under any circumstances," he said.

He highlighted Egypt’s position against any proposals that aim to create parallel political structures, asserting full support for Sudan and its people.

Last month, the RSF and its allies sought to form a parallel government, and a political event was held in Kenya’s Nairobi.

Regarding the situation in Gaza and US plans to displace Palestinians, Abdelatty commented on the evolving US stance, particularly the latest remarks of US President Donald Trump.

Trump on Wednesday said “nobody is expelling any Palestinians” from the enclave, a significant development that Egypt welcomed.

Abdelatty also confirmed that a conference on the reconstruction of Gaza, which Cairo is set to host, is planned for late April.

He expressed “optimism about financial commitments” from donor countries and noted Egypt’s efforts to engage both Arab and non-Arab regional and international actors to support this process.

The foreign minister stressed that the private sector, including Palestinian businesses, Arab companies, and international firms from Türkiye, the US, and Europe, will play a role in the enclave's reconstruction.

He said the summit will feature “innovative ideas and workshops focusing on specific issues related to rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure.”

Trump has promoted plans to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan, a proposal that both countries as well as other Arab and European nations, have firmly rejected.

In response, Arab leaders held an emergency summit in Cairo on March 4, unanimously rejecting any attempts to reconstruct Gaza through forced displacement of its inhabitants.

The summit also approved a comprehensive reconstruction plan for the territory, which is expected to take five years and cost approximately $53 billion.

A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, halting Israel’s war, which has killed over 48,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.