Egypt, Kuwait appeal to Sudanese rival forces to end conflict
Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s President and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Egypt’s president held a meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2024. [Photo: Courtesy]
Egypt and Kuwait have urged Sudan’s warring parties to put an end to the atrocious ongoing conflict in the country.
The two sisterly countries made this appeal in a joint statement issued after the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, visited Egypt on Wednesday.
Egypt and Kuwait emphasised the importance of achieving an immediate and long-term truce in Sudan, as well as an end to external meddling that gives military backing to any party involved in the war.
This is the first time two Arab countries have explicitly denounced regional intervention in the crisis. There are significant claims that the UAE and Iran are aiding both sides.
Sudan has submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council against the UAE. Nonetheless, it did not pursue a similar complaint at the League of Arab States, most likely due to a fear of failing to achieve an Arab agreement.
The Egyptian-Kuwaiti statement emphasised that any genuine political solution must be established and led by the Sudanese people, without interference or coercion from other parties. They advocated for actions that helped to resolve the situation while preserving Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and national institutions.
The two Arab countries additionally focused on the role of regional institutions and organisations in facilitating a resolution, citing the Jeddah Platform, the mechanism of Sudan’s bordering countries, the African Union, and the League of Arab States. This policy seeks to protect Sudanese interests, neighbouring countries, and the region’s overall security and stability.
Egypt initiated the project to resolve the Sudanese conflict, but allegations of Chad’s involvement led to the suspension of its backing for the project.
However, despite regional and international peace efforts, the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces continue to attack each other and have spread the conflict to the states.
The war which erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese army killed more than 14,000 people, tens of thousands wounded and resulted in a looming famine with 25 million people in need of life-saving assistance, and over 8.6 million forced to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.
