European Council president stresses Egypt’s vital role to advance efforts of reaching ceasefire in Sudan

CAIRO – 26 April 2023: President of the European Council Charles Michel highlighted on Wednesday the importance of the role played by Egypt to advance efforts to reach a ceasefire and calm the situation in Sudan in a phone call with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

During the phone call, Michel expressed deep concern about the deteriorating political, security and humanitarian situation in Sudan and its impact on civilians and foreign communities, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement.

For his part, President Sisi affirmed Egypt’s support for the fraternal Sudanese people during the current ongoing crisis as he reviewed with Michel Egypt’s efforts to help deescalate the crisis and achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

Sisi stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to activate the political path and peaceful dialogue so as to restore stability and security and protect the fraternal Sudanese people

Sisi and Michel also discussed a number of regional and international files and issues of mutual interest between Egypt and the European Union, the Presidency added.

Since the clashes started between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last week, Egypt has been calling for consolidating a ceasefire in Sudan and ending hostilities.

Egypt has also worked to evacuate its citizens and nationals of other countries amid the current temporary ceasefire with casualties due to the clashes reaching more than 400 deaths and thousands of injuries.

Egypt, which has around 10,000 citizens including students in Sudan, has so far repatriated 1,539 citizens, according to figures released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.