Egypt US talks in the United Arab Emirates on Friday 13 November covered Sudan, Libya and the Horn of Africa, when foreign minister Badr Abdelatty met US presidential adviser Massad Boulos.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Sir Bani Yas forum, according to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry. It matters because Egypt borders both Sudan and Libya, and Washington is one of the main brokers in efforts to end Sudan’s war, now in its fourth year.
What did the Egypt US talks cover on Sudan?
Ambassador Nader Zaki, the ministry’s spokesman, said the two men reviewed developments in Sudan and the efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement “with Sudanese ownership”. Such a settlement should preserve the country’s unity, sovereignty and national institutions, away from outside interference, he said. The statement was issued in Arabic.
Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been at war since April 2023. The cost to civilians keeps rising. The World Food Programme said this week that about 900,000 people had lost food assistance because of funding shortfalls, Sudan Tribune reported, and drone strikes hit up to 15 stations on the Sudan power grid in October.
What was said about Libya and the Horn of Africa?
On Libya, the two sides discussed the importance of supporting a political track that leads to a comprehensive settlement, Mr Zaki said. Cairo’s stated aim is an outcome that guarantees Libya’s unity and stability, meets the aspirations of its people and protects the resources of the state. Libya has been split between rival administrations in the west and east for years.
The Egypt US talks also turned to the Horn of Africa. The spokesman said the discussion dealt with joint efforts to reduce escalation, and stressed respect for the sovereignty of the region’s states and the principle of not threatening the use of force. The statement named no country.
Tension in the Horn has been building. The G7 and a group of US senators warned this week of a possible conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea over the port of Assab.
Both sides agreed on the need to keep working to stop the region sliding into new conflicts, Masrawy reported, citing the same statement.
Why do the Egypt US talks matter now?
Mr Abdelatty and Mr Boulos have been in regular contact. They met in Cairo in June, discussed Libya in July and spoke again in September, according to Maspero, the state broadcaster’s news site, which carried the latest statement shortly after 11:00 GMT on Friday.
Egypt has a direct interest in each of the three files. It has received large numbers of people fleeing Sudan, shares a long desert border with Libya and depends on shipping through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
The statement described the subjects discussed but announced no new initiative, timetable or agreement. No US account of the Egypt US talks had been published by the time of writing, so the detail above reflects the Egyptian side’s summary.
Mr Abdelatty’s wider programme in the UAE also included discussions on Gaza, the Egyptian daily Youm7 reported.
What happens next?
The ministry gave no date for further Egypt US talks. Diplomatic attention on Sudan is expected to continue: the G7 this week called on the army and the Rapid Support Forces to agree a truce and allow aid to move without restriction, according to Radio Dabanga.
FAQ
Who took part in the Egypt US talks?
Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, and Massad Boulos, the US president’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs. They met on 13 November on the sidelines of the Sir Bani Yas forum in the UAE.
What did Egypt say about Sudan?
The foreign ministry said the meeting covered efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement with Sudanese ownership that preserves Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and national institutions.
Did the Egypt US talks produce an agreement?
No agreement, initiative or timetable was announced. The Egyptian statement listed the subjects discussed: Sudan, Libya and the Horn of Africa.
Has the United States commented?
No US readout of the meeting had been published at the time of writing. The available account comes from the Egyptian foreign ministry’s spokesman.
