Sisi refutes Sudan's claims that Egypt is arming rebels

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi yesterday rejected statements made by his Sudanese counterpart, Omar Al-Bashir, that he supports armed rebel groups who want to topple the government in Khartoum.

Speaking at a joint press conference held today in Cairo with the Austrian Chancellor, Christian Kern, Al-Sisi said: “Egypt does not conspire against any country and does not interfere in the internal relations of any country, especially Sudan.”

Egypt’s policy of not interfering in any other nation’s internal affairs has not changed and will not change.

He added that it is “illogical” for his army to support military rebels.

Read: Sudan: Egypt supplying weapons to rebels

On Tuesday, Al-Bashir said in a speech to the Sudanese military personnel that his troops had seized Egyptian armoured vehicles from rebels in Darfur, accusing Cairo of supporting the fighters.

The Sudanese president also pointed out, in an interview with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera, that Khartoum is “still patient despite Egypt occupying part of our land.”

The two African countries have been experiencing strained relations in recent months on issues ranging from the Halayeb Triangle land dispute to trade restrictions and burdensome visa requirements that have threatened bilateral commercial relations.