Continued War in Sudan; Egypt to Host Summit for Peace

The Egyptian presidency announced on Sunday, July 9, that the government will host a summit of leaders from neighboring countries of Sudan on Thursday, July 13, to discuss ways to end the three-month conflict between rival military factions in Sudan. This conflict has led to a major humanitarian crisis in the country and the region. According to the Egyptian presidency, the aim of the summit is to achieve effective mechanisms with Sudan's neighboring countries to seek a peaceful resolution to the war in Sudan in coordination with other regional and international efforts. The clashes, which began on April 15 in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and then spread to other areas, have displaced more than 2.9 million citizens of the country from their homes. In this context, about 700,000 people have fled to neighboring countries. Additionally, the United Nations reports that the war in Sudan has displaced one million children. According to estimates by the International Organization for Migration, more than 255,000 Sudanese citizens have crossed the border into Egypt. Egypt has close ties with the Sudanese army, which is currently fighting against the paramilitary forces known as the 'Rapid Support Forces' in Khartoum and other parts of the country. The United States and Saudi Arabia held talks in June in Jeddah to achieve a sustainable ceasefire, but their efforts and the Jeddah negotiations were unsuccessful due to violations of ceasefires. Airstrikes by the Sudanese army have left 22 dead, and renewed clashes between the army and Rapid Support Forces have intensified. A 72-hour ceasefire in Sudan has begun.