President El-Sisi Meets with President of the Transitional Sovereign Council

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met today President of the Transitional Sovereign Council General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan in Khartoum, Sudan, at the Republican Palace, where the ceremonial welcome was held, the two national anthems were played, and the guard of honor was reviewed.

As stated by the Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency, His Excellency President El-Sisi and the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council held discussions, followed by expanded talks that included the members of both countries’ delegations. General Al-Burhan said that both the Sudanese government and people welcome his Excellency’s visit to Sudan. He also stressed the distinguished bilateral relations between Egypt and Sudan. In the same context, General Al-Burhan praised the Egyptian efforts to support Sudan in all fields to face the repercussions of the various crises and to help remove Sudan from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism. Egypt’s stances reflect the historical and strategic relations bonding the two countries, he added.

On the level of bilateral relations, General Al-Burhan emphasized Sudan's aspiration and keenness to activate joint projects between Egypt and Sudan and to promote cooperation between them at various levels, particularly political, economic, security and military wise.

The Spokesman added that the President expressed his appreciation to his brother, the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council, for the warm reception and generous hospitality. President El-Sisi stressed the ties of fraternity and the common history both Egypt and Sudan share. His Excellency expressed his appreciation for the current momentum in the bilateral relations which reflect the political will to strengthen and deepen the bilateral relations in various strategic fields of common interest.

The President expressed Egypt’s keenness to support the Sudanese government and people in all fields and to strengthen the bilateral relations, thus ensuring the enhancement of strategic partnership based on mutual respect and joint cooperation for the benefit of the two countries. With that, the Egyptian-Sudanese relations would set an example to be followed in terms of comprehensive development and economic integration.

The President also affirmed Egypt's support to promote peace, stability and development in Sudan during this pivotal stage in its history. It is a well-established principle that the security and stability of Sudan is an integral part of Egypt's, and that Egypt's has been and will always be extending a helping hand to Sudan for cooperation, goodness and construction, as a consistent strategic approach.

The Spokesman also added that the talks addressed means to enhance bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries at all fields. Moreover, various regional and international issues of common interest have been discussed, particularly the latest developments related to the Sudanese-Ethiopian border and the latest Sudanese movements to extend its sovereignty on its eastern borders with Ethiopia. These efforts come out of Sudan’s respect for the international agreements establishing borders and its constant endeavor to assert the State’s sovereignty peacefully, without resorting to violence.

They also discussed the developments in the Horn of Africa and East Africa. The discussions reflected a mutual understanding between the two sides regarding ways to deal with these files, thus ensuring the enhancement of African capabilities to face the challenges that the continent is going through. It was also agreed to intensify bilateral meetings between the senior officials of the two countries, periodically, in order to ensure close coordination and consultations on the developments currently taking place in the geographical vicinity of the two countries.

During the meeting, President El-Sisi and General Al-Burhan have exchanged their views on the latest developments of the Renaissance Dam file. It was agreed that the current critical stage the Renaissance Dam file is going through requires extensive coordination between Egypt and Sudan, since they are the two downstream countries that would be directly affected by this dam. In the same regard, they stressed that any unilateral measure that would impose a fait accompli and monopolize the resources of the Blue Nile is rejected.

In this context, they stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral, regional, and international efforts to reach a comprehensive and integrated agreement on the rules of the filling and operation of the Renaissance Dam that is legally binding, achieves the interests of the three countries, and limits the damage caused by the Renaissance Dam and inflicted on Egypt and Sudan. This would be achieved particularly through supporting the Sudanese proposal to form an international quartet, including the chairmanship of the African Union, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations to mediate in this file.