Egypt highlights ‘red lines’ on Sudan in talks with Russia

CAIRO – 19 December 2025: Egypt flagged its “red lines” on Sudan during talks with Russia on Friday, underscoring Cairo’s concern over the ongoing escalation in the conflict and its impact on civilians.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Cairo to discuss regional issues, including the situation in Sudan.

Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s deep concern over continued escalation and the resulting human rights violations against Sudanese civilians.

He reiterated Egypt’s position on preserving Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity, preventing any secession of Sudanese territory, and supporting state institutions.

Abdelatty emphasized Egypt’s “red lines” that must not be crossed, noting that violations would directly affect Egypt’s national security.

‘Protecting Red Lines’

The Egyptian Presidency on Thursday laid out “red lines that cannot be crossed or compromised” during a visit by President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan to Cairo.

Egypt warned that violations would “directly affect Egypt’s national security, which is directly linked to Sudan’s national security.”

The Presidency said that “preserving Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity, and not undermining with its resources and those of the Sudanese people, is among the most important of these red lines.”

This includes “rejecting the secession of any part of Sudan’s territory,” the Presidency emphasized.

Egypt reiterated its “categorical rejection of the creation of, or recognition of, any parallel entities,” stressing that such moves “would undermine Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity.”

“Preserving Sudanese state institutions and preventing any harm to them,” the Presidency affirmed, “constitute another red line for Egypt.”

Sudan War

The war in Sudan, ongoing since 2023, has killed scores of civilians and plunged the African country into what the UN described as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Egypt has engaged in international efforts aiming to resolve the crisis, including a Quad mechanism with the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Quad countries are working to secure a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month transition to a civilian-led government.