US envoy hears Egypt’s stance on Sudan war

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has stressed to US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello that Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. He also underlined a policy of non-interference in Sudan’s internal affairs, preserving the state and its institutions, and preventing its disintegration. Analysts are divided on whether Perriello can achieve his goal of achieving sustainable peace in Sudan.

In statement issued following a meeting between Shoukry and Perriello in the Egyptian capital Cairo yesterday, the Egyptian Foreign Affairs Ministry said that during the meeting the US Special Envoy, who is currently touring Africa and the Middle East, Shoukry stressed the importance of respecting the principles of Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, non-interference in its internal affairs, preserving the state and its institutions, and preventing its disintegration.

During the meeting, Shoukry thanked Perriello for his visit to Cairo and briefed him on Egyptian contacts with all parties. He also stressed the need to involve all political forces and national actors in any future peace process, “to convey basic messages about the need to stop the escalation and reach a sustainable ceasefire agreement in Sudan”.

Shoukry explained Egypt’s position on dealing with the conflict in Sudan as “a purely Sudanese affair, and the need for no external parties to interfere in the crisis in a way that hinders efforts to contain it.”

He pointed to “the efforts of the Egyptian state to provide the necessary support to the Sudanese people since the beginning of the crisis, and its reception of more than half a million Sudanese citizens, in addition to more than five million other Sudanese living in Egypt without distinction between them and Egyptian citizens.”

US envoy Perriello expressed his satisfaction with visiting Egypt on his first regional tour after taking office, “confirming the US administration’s awareness of the importance of Egypt’s role and influence in the region, and the centrality of its role in any future solution to the Sudanese crisis,” according to the statement.

The two sides agreed to “continue consultation and coordination between the two countries during the next stage, according to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement.

Tom Perriello was appointed US Special Envoy for Sudan in February, briefed to “coordinate the US policy on Sudan and advance our efforts to end the hostilities, secure unhindered humanitarian access, and support the Sudanese people as they seek to fulfil their aspirations for freedom, peace, and justice”. Perriello’s appointment was welcomed by the Sudan government.

Prior to his departure on the tour, that has taken him to Kamapala in Uganda, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Nairobi in Kenya, and Cairo in Egypt, Perriello posted a video message on X, saying: “I’m heading out to the region because we feel this urgent need to end to end this war and get humanitarian access to all of the Sudanese people, so I’ll be spending the next couple of weeks listening to the Sudanese people, across refugee camps and other areas, meeting with our African partners, and others, who can help us to end this war, and bring justice and democracy to the people of Sudan.”

Achieving peace

Some observers of Sudanese affairs believe that the chances that Perriello will achieve a breakthrough in the Sudanese crisis are still unattainable under the current circumstances, however, prominent political analyst Mohamed Latif said he believes Perriello could succeed in stopping the war and achieving peace.

He added that it is important for the US administration to know that there is agreement in the region and the region on the Sudanese file and that there is no fragmentation or division.

In an interview with Radio Dabanga, commenting on Perriello’s meeting with Horn of Africa Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu in Djibouti on Sunday, Latif says that US envoy’s political background will help him perform his mission, noting that he previously served as a special envoy for the United States in the Great Lakes region and was an active member of the Democratic Party and the US Congress.

Specific Credibility

Gebeyehu stressed the need to coordinate all efforts to reach a solution to the Sudanese crisis, stressing IGAD commitment to cooperate with everyone to bring peace to Sudan.

Egypt and IGAD countries constitute the largest number of countries neighbouring and adjacent to Sudan, and therefore the most affected by what is happening in it, which makes their roles pivotal and necessary in any step to stop the war, according to many analysts and observers of Sudanese affairs.

Latif said: “Perriello is aware of what he is doing because he visited Egypt on his first foreign tour, in addition to his first tour including four IGAD countries”.

He added that “the US administration has special consideration for IGAD and the role it can play in the coming period”.

He expressed his belief that the seven countries included in Perriello’s visit could be described as “the main link or central bloc that could help resolve the Sudanese crisis”.

Latif considered IGAD to confirm its readiness to cooperate with all parties as important at this stage, pointing to the need to block the way for “the manoeuvres of the de facto government and jump between platforms,” as he described.

He expressed his belief that the position of IGAD has resolved this matter, pointing out that it no longer has a problem, whatever the initiative seeking to solve the Sudanese problem.

‘A new Egyptian position’

Regarding the outcome of Perriello’s meeting with the Egyptian FM, Latif said “Egypt established a new position that puts it at the same distance from both sides of the conflict” before the US envoy’s visit.

He considered that “Cairo could be one of the stations that host an upcoming meeting to discuss solutions to the Sudanese crisis, expressing optimism that this can happen “if the intentions are true.”

Containing the crisis

Latif believes that Perriello is now trying to “contain the crisis”, as he described it, adding that he is “trying to bring together the influential parties, which strengthens his position”, referring to the seven countries included in his tour.

If Perriello succeeds “in unifying the position of the region and the Sudanese periphery, there will be nothing to prevent him from meeting with any Sudanese official,” he said, adding that he believes meeting Sudanese officials could be a next step, although it was not included in the program of his current tour.

As Perriello continues his African-Arab tour armed with his long political and diplomatic experience, millions of Sudanese are waiting for a glimmer of hope to stop this war, whether from the US envoy or other diplomats and officials seeking a solution to the crisis, which is almost completing its first year.