UPDATE 3 - Sudan army chief visits Egypt on 1st trip since conflict

UDPATES WITH SUDANESE ARMY CHIEF’S RETURN TO COUNTRY

By Ibrahim Khazen

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Sudan's army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visited Egypt on Tuesday, on his first foreign visit since the outbreak of clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.

Al-Burhan was received by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi upon his arrival at El-Alamein International Airport on the North Coast.

In a statement, the Egyptian presidency said the two leaders discussed the Sudanese developments and the goals set by a recent summit of Sudan’s neighbors, which was hosted by Egypt last month.

According to the statement, al-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s firm support to Sudan, its security, stability, unity and territorial integrity.

Speaking following his talks with the Egyptian leader, al-Burhan said the Sudanese army does not aspire to remain in power.

“What we seek is to hold free and fair elections,” he added. "We seek to complete the democratic transitional until the people of Sudan choose their ruler,” he added.

The army chief thanked Egypt for hosting thousands of Sudanese, who fled their country following the outbreak of violence there.

After his visit, Al-Burhan returned to the Red Sea coastal city of Port Sudan.

Earlier, local media reported that the Sudanese army chief was also expected to visit Saudi Arabia.

Sudan has been ravaged by fighting between the army and the RSF since April, in a conflict that killed more than 3,000 civilians and injured thousands, according to local medics.

Several cease-fire agreements brokered by Saudi and US mediators between the warring rivals had failed to end violence in the country.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that nearly four million people have been displaced by the current conflict in Sudan.

Sudan’s transitional period, which started in August 2019 after the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir, was scheduled to end with elections in early 2024.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi