El-Sisi’s comments came as he addressed a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces last night, presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said.

The president assured that the Egyptian troops are present in Sudan only for training purposes and made it claire that they do not support either party. He also revealed contacts to ensure the safety of the Egyptian soldiers.

Over the weekend, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, announced the capture of a group of Egyptian soldiers after occupying the Marawi airbase, in the north of the country, although they explained that they will be returned to Egypt.

“What is currently happening in Sudan is an internal matter in which external interference should never occur so as not to inflame the current situation there,” El-Sisi stressed. On the contrary, he highlighted the need for cooperation between states in order to advance in common development.

He stated that contacts were made with the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, to restore calm in Sudan. The President called on the Sudanese Army and the FAR to talk so as to solve the crisis and end the fighting.

“We are in contact with both parties to stop the bloodshed and restore national stability,” he stressed.

The day before,the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, also demanded to avoid any external interference in Sudan during telephone talks with his counterparts in France, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia.

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