By The Weekly Vision Correspondent
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Tuesday last week that the situation in Sudan is linked to Egyptian national security, stressing the need to preserve the country’s unity and support its state institutions, the presidency said.
Sisi made the remarks in a phone call with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, during which he also offered condolences for victims of a recent landslide in Kenya. According to the presidency spokesman, Sisi stressed the need to preserve Sudan’s unity and sovereignty and the “imperative to stop the humanitarian tragedy” facing its people, especially in and around the city of El Fasher. He also mentioned Egypt’s de-escalation efforts within the framework of the Quartet group, the statement said.
The call comes amid sharp tension between Sudan’s government, based in Port Sudan, and Kenya. The Sudanese government accuses Nairobi of supporting the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with weapons and harbouring its leaders.
Port Sudan bases its accusations on what it describes as “personal relationships and economic interests” linking Kenya’s president to RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and his brother. Khartoum also accuses Kenyan authorities of facilitating military supplies and hosting political events for RSF leaders and their allies. Sudanese authorities have described Kenya’s actions in multiple statements as “hostile and irresponsible”, accusing them of encouraging Sudan’s division and “violating sovereignty”. The tensions led Sudan to recall its ambassador to Kenya months ago.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the international community on Wednesday to sever the supply of weapons and support to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing the paramilitary group of perpetrating “horrifying atrocities”.
“I think something needs to be done to cut off the weapons and support that the RSF is getting as they continue with their advances,” Rubio told reporters after a G7 meeting in Canada. He added that the assistance was “clearly” coming from outside Sudan, not just from countries “paying for it”, but also from nations “allowing their territory to be used to ship it and transport it”.
Rubio accused the RSF of committing “acts of sexual violence and atrocities… of the most horrific kind” against “women, children, and innocent civilians”. He dismissed the group’s claims that the attacks were the work of “rogue elements”, asserting: “It’s not rogue elements, it’s… they’re doing it systematically.”
The secretary also highlighted the dire humanitarian situation, citing “unprecedented” malnutrition. He expressed grave concern over the low number of refugees emerging from besieged areas. “We fear that the reason why they didn’t come out is because they’re dead, or because they’re so sick and so famished that they can’t move,” Rubio said, calling the situation “horrifying”.
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