Egyptian FM on Sudan’s Hemedti’s remarks: We have strategic patience

Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, has explained why Egypt officially responded to recent remarks by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, the commander of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in which he threatened to target airports in neighbouring countries. 

In an interview on Yahduth Fi Masr (Happening in Egypt) with TV host Sherif Amer on MBC Masr on Tuesday evening, Abdelatty said: “Egypt is a major and respected country. It honours its commitments, acts in a civilised manner, and has strategic patience. We always look forward.”

He stressed that “Egypt’s main concern is to ensure the well-being of the Sudanese people,” adding that “Egypt’s hands are clean in all neighbouring countries and across the world.”

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“Thanks be to God, our hands are clean in Sudan, Libya, and all neighbouring countries,” he continued. “We have never been involved in the shedding of innocent blood. As President El-Sisi has said, Egypt’s foreign policy is conducted with honour at a time when honour has become rare.”

In late October, the commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), threatened to strike a neighbouring country, claiming that warplanes had taken off from its territory to attack his forces, and described those sites as “legitimate targets.”

Many commentators believed Hemedti was directing his threats at Egypt, as he had previously accused Cairo of providing air support to the Sudanese army in its battles against the Rapid Support Forces. Others, however, argued that “he certainly did not mean Egypt, because he knows the consequences.”

Egypt has repeatedly affirmed its support for Sudan’s state institutions, particularly the army, while calling for an end to the conflict, a humanitarian truce, and relief for the suffering of the Sudanese people.

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