Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has issued a stark warning over the ongoing conflict in Sudan, declaring that the current situation is “unacceptable” and vowing a strong response to any developments that threaten its national security or regional stability.
Speaking on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated Cairo’s categorical rejection of any attempt to equate Sudan’s national army with what he described as “illegitimate militias.” He called such comparisons a red line for Egypt and warned that they undermine both Sudanese state institutions and broader regional security.
Abdelatty stressed the need for coordinated international action to withdraw all foreign mercenaries from Sudan, halt support to armed militias and prevent the flow of illicit weapons into the country. “The continuation of the current situation cannot be accepted under any circumstances for Egypt,” he said, underscoring what he described as clear Egyptian “red lines.”
He added that any breach of those lines would be met with a “firm, decisive and strong” response, while noting that regional and international frameworks are working to draft a roadmap that would begin with an immediate humanitarian truce followed by a comprehensive political process to end the conflict.
War at Egypt’s Southern Border
Sudan has been engulfed in violence since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The conflict has killed more than 20,000 people, displaced millions and devastated infrastructure across the country. The Rapid Support Forces’ consolidation of control in parts of Darfur has fueled fears of territorial fragmentation and deepened humanitarian concerns, with international organizations warning of famine conditions in several regions.
For Egypt, which shares a long and sensitive border with Sudan, the war carries direct strategic implications. Cairo has repeatedly warned that foreign backing for militias threatens not only Sudan’s territorial integrity but also Egyptian national security — particularly given the interconnected issues of border stability and Nile River water security.
Diplomatic Alignment
Abdelatty’s remarks align with Egypt’s longstanding position that Sudan’s sovereignty and state institutions must be preserved. At a meeting of the international “quad” Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States last September, Cairo emphasized the importance of avoiding equivalence between the Sudanese army and other armed actors and called for a comprehensive ceasefire rooted in Sudanese national ownership.
Egypt has also used international platforms to elevate the urgency of the crisis. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025, Cairo described the Sudan conflict as “the worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” warning of the dangers of state collapse or partition and reaffirming support for African Union efforts to safeguard Sudan’s unity and sovereignty.
Regional Stakes
The war in Sudan has become one of Africa’s most destabilizing conflicts, with spillover risks affecting neighboring states across the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. Analysts note that the proliferation of armed groups, cross-border weapons trafficking and external intervention have compounded the complexity of mediation efforts.
Egypt’s latest warning signals that Cairo views developments in Sudan not as a distant crisis but as an immediate strategic concern. As diplomatic initiatives continue in Addis Ababa and beyond, the question remains whether regional and international actors can translate calls for a ceasefire into concrete progress before the conflict further entrenches division and humanitarian catastrophe.
