Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt and UN chief confer on Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and Somali sovereignty
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, held a telephone conversation on Thursday with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss the latest developments in several key regional issues.
According to the official statement issued by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, Dr. Abdel Aty conveyed the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Secretary-General Guterres and praised his principled and wise leadership in addressing critical regional and international challenges. The Minister reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for the United Nations and its vital role in promoting international peace and security.
In response, Secretary-General Guterres asked Dr. Abdel Aty to pass along his warmest regards to President El-Sisi. He commended the President’s sustained efforts to uphold security and stability in the region amid complex crises, and lauded Egypt’s steadfast commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and its tireless work to bolster peace and security both regionally and globally.
The discussion covered recent developments in the Gaza Strip, with both parties stressing the urgency of advancing to the second phase of the U.S. President’s peace plan. Dr. Abdel Aty emphasized the importance of an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the creation of a temporary Palestinian technocratic committee to manage the territory, alongside the deployment of an international stabilization force. The Minister underlined the necessity of ensuring unimpeded humanitarian aid, fostering early recovery, and facilitating reconstruction efforts. He also reiterated Egypt’s firm rejection of any actions that threaten the geographic unity of the Palestinian territories or attempt to sever the connection between the West Bank and Gaza, making clear Egypt's unwavering opposition to the division of Gaza.
The crisis in Sudan was also on the agenda. Minister Abdel Aty stressed the need to push toward a humanitarian truce as a step toward a comprehensive ceasefire, emphasizing respect for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and institutional integrity. He called for safe corridors for humanitarian relief to reach Sudanese people without obstacles, while strongly condemning grave violations against civilians in El Fasher and North Kordofan, and underscored the need for the protection of civilians.
On Yemen, the Minister reiterated Egypt’s consistent support for Yemen’s unity, territorial integrity, and the preservation of state institutions. Dr. Abdel Aty highlighted the importance of de-escalation, promoting calm, and reaching an inclusive political settlement through intra-Yemeni dialogue, in a manner that protects Yemen's unity and meets the aspirations of its people for restored security and stability.
Additionally, Minister Abdel Aty voiced strong opposition to Israel’s unilateral and unlawful recognition of "Somaliland," describing it as a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia and an erosion of international law and the UN Charter. He warned that such a move sets a serious precedent, threatening both regional and global peace and security, and reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia.
The conversation underscored the close coordination between Egypt and the United Nations on addressing pressing regional crises, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, security, and stability across the wider region.