Egypt Ignores ‘Allegations’ of Interference in Sudan War
Egypt has dismissed “new allegations” made by the deputy commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Abdel Rahim Dagalo (brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti”), who claimed that “Egyptian aircraft carried out airstrikes during the Sudan war.”
A senior Egyptian official said Saturday that “Cairo will not comment on Dagalo’s remarks,” adding to Asharq Al-Awsat that “the Egyptian Foreign Ministry has previously denied similar claims made by the RSF leader last year.”
As the Sudanese civil war nears its second year, the Sudanese army has recently achieved military gains, announcing the full liberation of the capital, Khartoum, from RSF control, which had held the city since the outbreak of the conflict in mid-April 2023.
In a new escalation against Egypt, Hemedti’s brother alleged Egyptian intervention in Sudan’s war, claiming “Egyptian aircraft bombed Sudanese civilians.”
Abdel Rahim appeared in a video on Saturday among his supporters in Darfur (western Sudan), speaking about a past meeting with former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel during his tenure. He claimed that Egypt presented a peace proposal that he refused to sign, alleging that “Cairo wants a peace deal ready for signature, without negotiation.”
In Cairo, the senior Egyptian official reiterated that Egypt would not respond to such allegations, emphasizing the country’s constant position calling for an end to the war in Sudan, the protection of civilians, and support for humanitarian relief efforts.
This is not the first time the RSF has accused Egypt of conducting airstrikes in Sudan. In a video statement last October, Hemedti claimed that “Egyptian warplanes bombed RSF forces,” and accused the Egyptian government of supporting the Sudanese army with drones.
However, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry denied those allegations at the time, urging the international community to seek evidence for the claims made by the RSF leader. It affirmed that these accusations came as Cairo was intensifying efforts to end the conflict and protect civilians.
Ambassador Salah Halima, a member of Egypt’s Council for Foreign Affairs, called for ignoring the RSF deputy’s remarks, saying, “Abdel Rahim’s statements come at a time when the RSF is weakened due to recent losses.” He added that such allegations reflect the RSF’s poor standing in the ongoing war.
Halima believes the RSF is currently facing serious disarray on the battlefield, and Abdel Rahim’s rejection of Egypt’s peace proposal reveals contradictions in the militia’s stance and a broader unwillingness to engage in peaceful solutions—ultimately bearing responsibility for atrocities committed against Sudanese civilians.
Former Egyptian ambassador to Sudan, Hossam Issa, said that the remarks made by Hemedti’s brother are aimed at justifying the RSF’s repeated defeats. “These claims come with no evidence and follow a familiar pattern from the RSF leadership after every military setback,” he said, referencing Hemedti’s previous defeat in Jebel Moya, Sennar State (southeast Sudan).
According to Issa, the RSF leadership has lost credibility among its fighters and international backers—especially after Hemedti claimed he would never leave the Republican Palace in Khartoum, only for the Sudanese army to retake it days later, along with other key facilities in the capital.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the RSF has recently faced multiple international condemnations, including from the United Nations, over crimes against civilians, noting that most of the displaced people in the conflict are from areas that were under RSF control.
The internal war in Sudan has forced nearly 13 million people to flee, both internally and to neighboring countries, according to UN estimates, with around 1.2 million Sudanese having fled to Egypt.
