Sudan neighboring states’ leaders call for ceasefire in conflict-hit country

CAIRO – 13 July 2023: Leaders of Sudan’s neighboring countries have called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan and urged conflicting parties to return to the negotiation table as they participated in the Sudan Neighboring States Summit held in Cairo today.

The leaders of Egypt, Chad, Libya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Central Africa have delivered speeches during the summit, voicing concerns over the conflict’s consequences on their states.

Egypt

In the opening session of the summit, Sisi said called for an immediate ceasefire between the conflicting parties in Sudan, highlighting the need for non-interference of foreign powers in the Sudanese crisis.

Sisi also stressed the importance of allowing access of the humanitarian aid to the Sudanese people.

The Egyptian president added that Sudan's neighboring countries have to unify their vision to contribute to resolving the crisis.

Sisi said the ongoing conflict led to several impediments for the agricultural season, causing acute food shortages and also led to the deterioration of health institutions and shortages in medicines and healthcare supplies.

“This sharp deterioration in the humanitarian situation and the catastrophic repercussions of the crisis necessitate immediate and sustainable cessation of the military operations,” the president added.

The president further stressed that Sudan’s neighboring countries exerted tremendous efforts to be able to receive hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and share their limited resources with them despite the severe global economic situation.

In this regard, Sisi called on the international community to fulfill the pledges they declared at the Sudan Pledging Conference, which was held in June to support Sudan’s neighboring countries that were hardest hit by the negative repercussions of the crisis.

Sisi confirmed that Egypt has received hundreds of thousands of the displaced Sudanese people, joining the 5 million Sudanese people that had already been living on Egyptian soil for several years.

Libya

President of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed Al-Menfi warned that the continuation of the crisis will inflict tragedies on the Sudanese people.

Menfi called for unifying initiatives to solve the Sudanese crisis, highlighting the economic, security and social impacts of the conflict on the neighboring countries.

We call on the parties to the Sudanese conflict to abide by the outcomes of the Jeddah meeting on Sudan, Menfi said.

Central African Republic

For his part, President of the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadéra said the critical internal armed conflict in Sudan steers the states away from the African Union’s goal of “Silencing the Guns” until 2063.

He welcomed the summit in Cairo, which reflects the importance that Sudan’s neighboring countries attach to restoring peace in Sudan.

I invite Sudan's neighboring states to play a mediating role in order to restore peace in Sudan as the Sudanese security and peace reflect on the regional peace and security, Touadéra added.

Chad

Chadian President Idriss Déby said the confrontations in Sudan are of concern to all neighboring states, urging joint efforts to seek an appropriate solution to this urgent situation.

Déby underlined the need for Sudan’s neighboring states to engage in efforts of backing the international initiatives aiming to resolve the Sudanese crisis, especially through the AU as well as the Arab League.

In one week, Chad received over 150,000 people, most of whom are women and children, who fled from the Sudanese conflict, Déby said.

This is in addition to 600,000 Sudanese refugees that Chad has received since the war in Darfur, he added.

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed thanked President Sisi for the warm hospitality and for convening the Sudan neighboring states summit.

In a speech, Ahmed said the consequences of the conflict in Sudan have affected all neighboring countries in light of the waves of refugees influx.

The Horn of Africa and other areas will suffer in case the Sudanese conflicting parties continue to refrain from reaching a solution to the crisis, he stressed.

Ethiopia urges immediate and sustainable ceasefire in Sudan, holding dialogue that contributes to achieving Sudanese stability and organizing a transitional period to reach peace in Sudan, Ahmed added.

African Union Commission

Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Moussa Faki said the African Peace and Security Council has called for a quick implementation of ceasefire in Sudan.

He also underlined the need for returning to the negotiations table to reach a peaceful solution, as per the calls of the council held late in May.

Eritrea

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki said the summit convened by Egypt today is an opportunity to secure the proper climate to achieve stability in Sudan and the region.

Afwerki called for respecting Sudan's independence and sovereignty and preventing foreign interference in the Sudanese affairs.

The Sudanese people will have the last word in resolving the crisis, Afwerki said, urging giving the opportunity to the Sudanese people to end the war.

He also affirmed Eritrea’s willingness to support Sudan by all means.

South Sudan

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir called for a permanent ceasefire in Sudan, expressing hope that all initiatives lead to solution to the Sudanese crisis.

He also noted that the influx of refugees from Sudan has put the economies of the neighboring countries under pressure.

Arab League

Arab League’s Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit affirmed rejection to any foreign interference in the Sudanese internal affairs.

He also voiced full solidarity with Sudan to preserve its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Abul Gheit affirmed support to Jeddah track to resolve the Sudanese crisis, which has called for a comprehensive, sustainable and immediate ceasefire that allows the resumption of the transitional phase.

Sudan's neighboring countries have to be in the heart of efforts to end the Sudanese crisis, Abul Gheit stressed.

The Arab League chief also voiced support to a Sudanese comprehensive political track that includes all Sudanese segments and fulfills the aspiration of people in achieving peace, security and development.

The Sudanese political track should lead to the formation of a transitional government that is capable of tackling the main issues, especially the economic and humanitarian situation as well as the security sector, Abul Gheit added.