CAIRO: Egypt on Sunday rejected any attempt to establish a parallel government in Sudan, warning that such an act could jeopardise the “unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity” of the war-hit country.
The ongoing conflict that started nearly two years ago between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of casualties and millions displaced.
A week ago, the RSF and its allies signed a charter in Kenya declaring the formation of a “government of peace and unity” in areas under their control.
“Egypt expresses its rejection of any attempts that threaten the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of brotherly Sudan, including the pursuit of forming a parallel Sudanese government,” a statement from Cairo’s foreign ministry said Sunday.
It added that such actions “complicate the situation in Sudan, hinder ongoing efforts to unify political visions, and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.”
Egypt also called on “all Sudanese forces to prioritise the country’s supreme national interest and to engage positively in launching a comprehensive political (peace) process without exclusion or external interference.”
Last week, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in a press conference alongside his Sudanese counterpart Ali Youssef said Sudan’s territorial integrity is a red line for Egypt.
He added that his country “rejects any calls to establish alternative structures outside the current framework.”
The paramilitaries’ move to form a rival government has drawn sharp criticism, including from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned it would “further deepen Sudan’s fragmentation.”
Saudi Arabia, which previously mediated ceasefire talks between the warring sides also rejected parallel government in the African nation.
Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement rejected any step or illegal measure taken outside the framework of official institutions of the Republic of Sudan, susceptible to affecting its unity and not reflecting the will of its people, including the call to form a parallel government.
The foreign ministry added that such actions do not reflect the will of the Sudanese people and could further destabilise the war-torn nation. The Kingdom reaffirmed its unwavering support for Sudan’s security, stability, and territorial integrity.
Saudi Arabia called upon the Sudanese parties to prioritise the national interest over factional divisions and to work toward preventing further fragmentation and chaos.
Meanwhile, Kuwait rejected any unlawful actions taken outside the framework of legitimate state institutions” in Sudan, calling them “a threat to its territorial unity.
At a UN Human Rights Council dialogue on Friday, Qatar also expressed its support for “Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity.”
