Egypt and Sudan trade accusations

ESAT News (May 25, 2017)

CAIRO, EGYPT – OCTOBER 18: Egypt’s President Abdelfattah al-Sisi (R) and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (L) hold a joint press conference in Cairo, Egypt on October 18, 2014. (Photo by Egypt’s Predidency/Pool/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi rejected on Wednesday his Sudanese counterpart accusation that Cairo backs rebels aiming to topple the government in Khartoum, saying Egypt does not conspire against anyone, according to a report by the Reuters.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir accused Egypt on Tuesday of supporting rebels at war with his government, a week ahead of a visit to Cairo by Sudan’s foreign minister that is meant to ease tensions between the neighboring states, Reuters reported.

Sudanese Media Center quoted President Omar Al Bashir as saying on Wednesday that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) confiscated Egyptian vehicles and tankers that were in the possession of gunmen during the recent fighting in Darfur.

The SAF destroyed 59 of the 64 vehicles that had entered through South Sudan, the SMC report said.

Egypt and Sudan have been at odds in recent months on issues ranging from disputed land in southern Egypt to trade restrictions and burdensome visa requirements that have threatened bilateral commercial relations, the Reuters report said.

Sudan demands Egypt hand over the disputed Halayeb  Triangle border area, but Cairo says it is Egyptian.