Egypt to organise meeting between Sudan’s rival military leaders : Hamdok

March 12, 2024 (CAIRO) – Abdallah Hamdok, head of the anti-war coalition, Tagaddum, announced that Egyptian officials agreed to facilitate a meeting between the leaders of the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Cairo.

Previous attempts to convene the military leaders in both Ethiopia and Uganda proved unsuccessful.

Hamdok hoped that Cairo, due to its close ties with Sudan, could encourage a breakthrough. He emphasized the critical role of ending the war, highlighting the devastating consequences for both nations.

In a briefing to a limited number of journalists reported by Al Sudani, Hamdok acknowledges the complexities of the situation, including concerns about alleged bias towards the RSF.

He clarifies that Tagadum presented a solution to both parties, and the RSF’s engagement demonstrates their willingness to discuss. He emphasizes the urgency of ending the conflict and urges both leaders to prioritize the nation’s stability.

While the Manama meetings between military officials offered a glimmer of hope, full implementation of agreements remains crucial, he stressed, referring to a series of secret meetings co-organised by Egypt and Bahrain, with the involvement of the US and Saudi mediators and the RSF’s alleged backer, the UAE.

Nothing has been officially released about these talks, where the Sudanese army was represented by the deputy commander in chief, Shams al-Din Kabbashi, and the RSF deputy commander, Abdel Rahim Daglo.

However, the Sudanese army wants the RSF to fully surrender while the RSF seeks to negotiate a political role and retake their companies and money inside the country, a matter that the army also rejects.

Hamdok criticizes the conflicting political rhetoric from the RSF while the army refrains from providing a clear path forward. He emphasizes that a purely military solution is untenable.

Hamdok emphasizes Egypt’s understanding of the crisis and the consensus that a political solution through dialogue is essential.

He disclosed that his discussions with Egyptian officials centred on three pressing issues: establishing a ceasefire to halt the fighting, delivering critical humanitarian aid to those impacted by the conflict, and addressing the significant administrative challenges faced by Sudanese citizens residing in Egypt.

(ST)