Cairo’s Efforts on the Sudanese Crisis: Egyptian Efforts to Lift Sudan’s Suspension from the African Union

The significant diplomatic activity that Sudan is witnessing these days, including the visits by the country’s leadership abroad to raise awareness about the issue, particularly the visits to neighboring countries, led by Ethiopia, could lead to understandings with the countries and parties that undermine efforts for just solutions in the country. It may help neutralize regional and international agendas by fostering a better understanding of the real causes of the crisis and convincing them of its dangerous repercussions on the geographical and regional neighbors.

In parallel with Sudan’s efforts, Egypt has also been making significant efforts regarding the crisis. Egypt has spared no effort in making breakthroughs toward a solution to the Sudanese crisis that is acceptable to the Sudanese people. Cairo has activated all its international relations and communications to achieve this goal, based on key principles that it has upheld since the beginning of the war in Sudan. Chief among these principles is the preservation of Sudanese institutions, especially the armed forces, and non-interference in the internal affairs of the country. These principles have been a major barrier against passing any regional or international agenda in Sudan. Egypt has acted motivated by the long-standing historical ties between the two countries and the deep-rooted connections between the peoples of the Nile Valley, along with shared national security interests that necessitate preserving Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity.

Since the beginning of the crisis, Egypt has adopted the initiative of the Sudanese neighbors, considering that the neighboring countries are those who are most affected by the war and who also affect it. When the solutions under this initiative faltered, Egypt did not remain passive but participated or followed closely any initiative aimed at resolving the Sudanese crisis. Egypt has become a key point for any international representative or envoy attempting to resolve the crisis in Sudan, as everyone has realized that the solution to the Sudanese crisis cannot be achieved without Egypt’s involvement. The Sudanese leadership has expressed clear confidence, and the public is reassured by Egypt’s significant role.

When Egypt sought to break the deadlock in the Sudanese crisis, it succeeded in bringing together all the Sudanese political factions around the same table for the first time since the war began. Its efforts continue within this political forum to establish a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue that will outline a new roadmap for Sudan after the war. On the humanitarian level, Egypt has been one of the largest host countries for hundreds of thousands of Sudanese fleeing the war, treating them as guests and not as refugees, as no Sudanese would see Egypt as anything other than their second home. Egypt has also been thinking about preparing for the reconstruction of what the war has destroyed in Sudan. It participated in a major conference in Cairo on Sudan’s reconstruction held just a week ago, which was attended by a number of officials from both countries, under the direction of the political leadership, in addition to nearly 700 of the biggest businessmen from Egypt and Sudan, who discussed how to prepare and submit projects that could help rebuild Sudan.

When Egypt assumed the presidency of the African Union Peace and Security Council in October, it worked to bridge the gap between the council and the Sudanese government. The council made its first visit to Port Sudan under Egypt’s presidency. During this visit in early October, the council’s delegation listened to the official side, civil society, and political parties in Sudan. It was able to assess the overall situation, the developments in the country, and the key issues related to the war, as well as discuss the issue of Sudan’s suspension from the African Union. The council decided during this visit to open an African Union office in Port Sudan. Within just one month, Egypt’s presidency of the council achieved significant results regarding the Sudanese crisis.

To what extent has Egypt played a role in contributing to resolving the Sudanese crisis during its presidency of the African Union Peace and Security Council? Was Cairo able to help pave the way for lifting Sudan’s suspension from the African Union, which came after a recommendation from the Peace and Security Council one day after the events of October 25, 2021, and the dissolution of the government headed by Abdullah Hamdok?

Ambassador Nader Fath al-Alim, head of the African Union Office in Cairo, confirmed that the visit by the African Union Peace and Security Council delegation to Port Sudan in early October opened new horizons between Sudan and the council after a period of estrangement. He stated to “Al-Muhajir” that Egypt’s presidency of the council in October made this matter realistic. He added that the visit of the council’s delegation, led by Egypt, made the council reconsider its relationship with the Sudanese government, giving the council an opportunity to understand the real situation in Sudan. He pointed out that after the Arab Spring revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, the African Union considered these cases exceptional. He also noted that Sudan is currently going through an exceptional situation, marked by war and genocide. He emphasized that everything the council’s charter addresses is present in Sudan, and that the council’s understanding of the situation will lead to greater flexibility in dealing with the Sudanese government and open the way for new solutions, making them subject to African solutions.

Ambassador Fath al-Alim also added that one of the achievements of the African Union Peace and Security Council’s visit to Port Sudan under Egypt’s presidency was the decision to open an African Union office in Port Sudan. He revealed that opening this office faces some financial challenges, but assured that these challenges are financial, not political. He noted that Egypt’s presidency of the council lasted only one month, in October, and that what Cairo achieved in that short time was significant. He emphasized that hearing directly from the Sudanese leadership, rather than relying on information from the media or other sources, was a major achievement.

For his part, Ambassador Hossam Issa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Director of the Sudan and South Sudan Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained that one of Egypt’s most significant achievements during its presidency of the African Union Peace and Security Council in October was organizing the visit of the council’s delegation to Port Sudan. Issa, a former ambassador to Sudan, told Al-Muhajir that this visit represented a major development in relations between Sudan and the African Union. He added that this visit followed directly after the council’s delegation’s visit to Cairo, stressing that the visit was important on all levels and strengthened communications between the Sudanese government and the African Union Peace and Security Council. He noted that the most important decisions resulting from the visit were the decision to open an African Union office in Port Sudan. He stressed the importance of the African Union being present in Sudan, where the crisis is unfolding. He assured that this decision would soon be implemented with the transfer of the office and its head, Ambassador Mohamed Belayech, from Addis Ababa to Port Sudan.