Sudan has stepped up diplomatic engagement with Somalia and Egypt as the country continues to face a prolonged war and deepening humanitarian crisis, with recent discussions focusing on the conflict, regional developments and efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.
In Mogadishu, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Ali, held talks with Sudan’s Ambassador to Somalia, Abdurrahman Khalil Ahmed Abakr Afandi.
The meeting addressed political and security developments in Sudan and the wider region, while the two sides also discussed strengthening cooperation on issues of common interest.
Although officials did not disclose detailed agreements reached during the meeting, Somalia’s Foreign Ministry said the discussions reflected the two countries’ commitment to maintaining close diplomatic relations and expanding bilateral cooperation.
The engagement is significant as Somalia and Sudan have longstanding political and people-to-people ties, including cooperation in education, diplomacy and regional affairs.
Developments in Sudan are also of particular importance to Somalia because instability in Sudan can have wider consequences across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.
Sudan and Egypt Discuss the Conflict
Separately, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohy El-Din Salem held a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, focusing on the situation in Sudan and relations between the two neighboring countries.
Egypt reiterated its support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and state institutions, while emphasizing that any political solution to the conflict should be Sudanese-led and reflect the will of the Sudanese people.
Egyptian officials have consistently argued that preserving Sudanese state institutions is essential to preventing further fragmentation and instability.
Abdelatty also stressed the importance of a political process capable of protecting Sudan’s national institutions and resources and creating conditions for the restoration of security and stability.
The latest diplomatic contacts come as Sudan remains engulfed in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The fighting, which erupted in April 2023 after tensions between the two military formations escalated, has resulted in massive displacement, destruction of infrastructure and a severe humanitarian emergency.
The conflict has also affected neighboring countries, with millions of Sudanese forced to flee their homes and many seeking refuge in countries across the region.
The continued fighting has raised concerns over food security, public health, border security and the possibility of further regional destabilization.
For Egypt, Sudan’s stability is particularly important because of the two countries’ shared border, historical ties and interconnected security interests.
Cairo has also closely followed developments surrounding the Nile and the broader balance of power in the region.
For Somalia, the Sudan crisis carries wider implications for the Horn of Africa, where political instability, armed conflicts and humanitarian emergencies have increasingly become interconnected.
Mogadishu has therefore maintained diplomatic engagement with regional governments as it seeks to strengthen cooperation on common security and political challenges.
The simultaneous diplomatic contacts involving Somalia, Sudan and Egypt highlight the growing regional effort to address the Sudanese crisis through political engagement rather than further military escalation.
However, with fighting continuing and the humanitarian situation remaining critical, diplomatic efforts face significant challenges.
A sustainable settlement would ultimately require an agreement between Sudanese parties capable of ending the fighting, protecting civilians and establishing a credible political transition.
The latest talks therefore represent part of a broader regional diplomatic push, rather than an indication that a final political settlement has been reached.
Somalia and Egypt appear keen to maintain close communication with Sudan while emphasizing the preservation of the country’s unity and state institutions as key elements of any future resolution.