Egypt’s Intelligence Chief Discusses Ways to Restore Stability in Sudan with Al-Burhan
Sudan Events – Agencies
On Tuesday, Egyptian General Intelligence Chief, Major General Hassan Rashad, met with Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to discuss “ways to restore stability and joint efforts to end the war in a manner that preserves Sudan’s safety and unity.”
According to the Middle East News Agency (MENA), the meeting, held in Port Sudan, also covered enhancing bilateral relations and developing cooperation in all fields.
Al-Burhan praised Cairo’s supportive role, stressing the importance of strengthening relations between the two nations in a way that serves their mutual interests.
The Egyptian intelligence chief conveyed a verbal message from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Al-Burhan. According to the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, the message focused on bilateral relations and how to support, develop, and enhance cooperation between the two countries across all areas.
Sudan has been mired in an internal war for nearly two years, sparked by armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023. According to UN estimates, the conflict has displaced about 13 million Sudanese inside and outside the country, including around 1.2 million who have fled to Egypt, based on official figures.
Al-Burhan reiterated Sudan’s appreciation for Egypt’s leadership role in supporting his country, underlining the historical and brotherly ties between the two nations, and emphasizing the need to strengthen relations to serve shared interests.
Since the conflict began, Egypt has consistently stressed the importance of preserving Sudan’s unity and stability. Cairo has worked to end the armed conflict and establish a transitional roadmap involving all Sudanese parties, hosting both the “Sudan Neighboring Countries Summit” in July 2023 and the “Conference of Sudanese Political Forces” later that month.
The intelligence chief’s meeting with Al-Burhan is seen as part of the ongoing coordination between Cairo and Khartoum to preserve Sudan’s stability, according to Maki al-Maghraby, Director of the International Relations Unit at the Sudanese Center for Thought and Strategic Studies. He noted that Egypt’s outreach to Sudanese national institutions has significantly contributed to alleviating the crisis.
Military Advances by the Army
The Sudanese army has recently made progress on the battlefield, regaining control over major cities previously held by the RSF, including the capital Khartoum and Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira state.
Maghraby told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the current war developments necessitate dialogue and coordination between Cairo and Khartoum.
Drone Strikes in Merowe
On the ground, the RSF has resumed drone attacks, targeting Merowe Dam in Northern State. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the area. This marks the second major drone assault in recent days on power infrastructure, which has caused blackouts in several states. Repairs are still underway. On Monday, a drone destroyed the main fuel depot at Dongola Airport.
Three people were killed and ten others injured in a drone strike on Sunday that targeted the Sudanese army’s 73rd Division headquarters in the town of Al-Dabba, Northern State.
Army Advances in Omdurman
On Tuesday morning, the Sudanese army launched a large-scale military operation to retake areas under RSF control in Omdurman. Videos on social media showed army troops inside the Al-Nusour Camp west of the city.
The Karari Resistance Committees (a grassroots group active in Sudanese neighborhoods) reported that the army and its allied forces had taken control of several residential neighborhoods in Ombada locality in northern Omdurman, following the RSF’s withdrawal and redeployment near Qandahar Market.
Local sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that heavy clashes were ongoing between the two sides in the Dar al-Salaam area of the southern countryside. The RSF still controls the National Security and Fatasha camps and remains present in the Salha district and the Jumu’iyya areas west of Omdurman.
Evacuations in El Fasher
In El Fasher, the Founding Sudan Coalition (“Ta’sis”) announced that its forces are continuing the evacuation of civilians from the city and the nearby Zamzam camp. Adam Regal, spokesperson for the General Coordination of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees, posted on Facebook that the camp came under heavy artillery shelling by the RSF, injuring five displaced individuals and destroying several homes. Hundreds of displaced people have fled from El Fasher and its camps to the town of Tawila.
Separately, the National Umma Party called for the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors to allow delivery of aid and medical supplies to affected people in El Fasher and besieged camps in North Darfur. In a statement, the party urged the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations to intervene quickly and intensify relief efforts to save lives and alleviate civilian suffering.
