Sudan Crisis: Ruto Contacts Egypt’s President
President William Ruto has made contact with Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah El-Sisi concerning the ongoing Sudan crisis.
Ahmed Fahmy, the spokesperson for the President of Egypt, conveyed that the two leaders engaged in a telephone conversation on Tuesday, August 8th, during which they deliberated on matters like the Sudan conflict and various aspects of their bilateral relations.
In a declaration, Fahmy disclosed that Ruto and El-Sisi discussed matters of mutual interest related to Africa, with a focus on recent occurrences in Sudan and the Nile Basin area.
The diplomatic effort underscores Ruto’s pivotal position in addressing conflicts within Sudan’s region, in his capacity as the head of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) High-Level Delegation responsible for the Sudan Peace Process.
Ruto’s attempts to facilitate a resolution to the Sudan crisis have faced challenges, as the nation’s military leadership under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has declined his participation within the IGAD group for mediation.
Burhan alleged that Ruto was backing his adversary, Mohammed Hemedti Daglo, who leads the Rapid Support Forces.
The conversation with El-Sisi on the phone can be interpreted as a calculated effort to strengthen backing, utilize Egypt’s power and knowledge, and exploit Egypt’s connection with Sudan to resolve the conflict that has drawn global criticism.
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Backing Ruto will cast a larger shadow than Sudan’s opposing faction, particularly following his refusal which highlighted underlying tensions and complex factors that need to be dealt with before the Kenyan President effectively leading other African leaders in the effort of resolving the conflict.
The incident also underscores the necessity for skillful diplomatic strategies, particularly following the cyberattack on Kenya. The attack, attributed to a Sudanese hacker group, resulted in the disruption of crucial online services in the East African nation.
Kenya also chose not to provide a statement regarding a video that allegedly showed Sudan’s military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, challenging Kenya’s Ruto to a confrontation. The reason given was that responding to statements supposedly disseminated through unofficial communication channels would not align with diplomatic protocols.
Aside from tackling the Sudan crisis, Presidents Ruto and El-Sisi also talked about expanding their mutual connections and enhancing the structures for collaboration between Egypt and Kenya.
“This will be in a way that contributes to achieving the desired sustainable development for the countries and peoples of the continent and promoting endeavors aimed at achieving continental integration at all levels,” an excerpt of the statement issued by Egypt’s presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy sated.
Once again, Egypt’s unwavering backing of President William Ruto’s agendas is emphasized through the diverse discussions revolving around the Sudan crisis and the deepening of bilateral relations.
During the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) summit on June 8, Ruto had a meeting with El-Sisi. At this event, El-Sisi recognized Kenya’s efforts in advancing security and stability across the continent.
Sudan Crisis: Ruto Contacts Egypt’s President
