Egypt, Sudan in diplomatic row over ‘ill-treatment’

A diplomatic row has erupted between Egypt and Sudan over what Khartoum describes as the mistreatment of its nationals in Egypt.

The Sudanese embassy said in a Thursday statement that it has lodged a protest with the Egyptian foreign ministry over the recent detention of Sudanese nationals in Cairo.

“We have asked for a probe into these violations and for halting them immediately,” the embassy said.

A number of Sudanese nationals have recently been detained in Cairo on charges of forgery and currency trading on the black market.

At least 15 Sudanese nationals were also found dead this weekend in the Sinai Peninsula amid reports that they had been shot dead by Egyptian security forces while trying to cross into Israel.

The Sudanese embassy warned that the alleged Egyptian violations against Sudanese nationals “would harm relations” between the two states.

The Egyptian government, for its part, has denied targeting Sudanese nationals in Egypt.

Foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said his government will study the Sudanese complaints.

“We will communicate with the Sudanese embassy to tackle the issue,” he said.

Relations between Egypt and Sudan are haunted by disputes over a triangular territory on the border between the two countries.