Egyptian and Saudi Arabian officials stated on Monday that they share aligned views regarding the ongoing conflicts in Yemen and Sudan, amid regional instability and increasing competition with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The announcement followed discussions in Cairo between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidency.
The two countries emphasized their commitment to finding peaceful resolutions to regional crises, with a focus on preserving the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the involved states, specifically Sudan and Yemen, the statement said.
The alignment comes at a time when both Yemen and Sudan are facing significant internal strife. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, pitting the Saudi-backed government against the Houthi rebels. Sudan, since April 2023, has been experiencing a violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The situation in Sudan is particularly dire, with the United Nations recently declaring El Fasher a crime scene following its capture by the RSF. The conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement and shortages of essential resources.
Saudi Arabia has been actively involved in seeking a resolution to the Yemeni conflict, including offering dialogue to the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). The STC has, in turn, called for an independence vote as fighting intensifies in the region.
Egypt's stated alignment with Saudi Arabia underscores a unified front on these regional issues, particularly in contrast to the UAE, which has been pursuing its own foreign policy objectives in the region. The specific details of how this alignment will translate into concrete actions regarding Yemen and Sudan were not immediately clear. Further diplomatic efforts and policy announcements are expected as both countries navigate the complexities of the regional landscape.
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