War-torn Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan arrived in Cairo Monday to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, on his first visit since Egypt denied any involvement in Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
“President Sisi will meet General Burhan during his visit in Cairo,” Egyptian presidency spokesman Ahmed Fahmy told AFP.
A Sudanese army statement said Sisi had invited Burhan to the 12th World Urban Forum organised by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023 between the regular army led by Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
It has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of 11 million people, according to the United Nations.
The conflict has resulted in what has been described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in recent history.
Burhan’s most recent visit to Egypt was in February when he met Sisi and discussed “his government’s vision to end the war and establish peace and stability”.
Egypt and Sudan share a lengthy common border, and last month, Cairo denied allegations by Daglo that its military has been involved in the conflict.
“Egypt is fighting us,” Daglo charged in a video posted online, accusing Egypt of being one of six countries of interfering in the conflict, including Iran.
Burhan has historically been close to Sisi.
Both the Sudanese army and the RSF have been accused of repeated atrocities in the war, including targeting civilians, indiscriminately shelling residential areas and looting or blocking aid.
The RSF has been accused of crimes against humanity, systematic sexual violence and ethnic cleansing.
© Agence France-Presse
