President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir (L) is welcomed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on 10th January 2017 [Egyptian Presidency – Handout/Anadolu]

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi denounced Monday any peace talks in Sudan that “overlook” its two neighbors — South Sudan and Egypt, as he met President Salva Kiir in Cairo and discussed ways to resolve the months-long war.

Speaking during a joint news conference with President Kiir at El-Ittihadiya Palace, El Sisi said the two countries where Sudan is geographically sandwiched between, have an essential role in resolving the crisis.

“The two countries must not be overlooked in any initiative to resolve the Sudanese crisis and the two countries have the best understanding of the political entanglements in Sudan and the tribal interactions,” President El Sisi said.

Kiir traveled to the Egyptian capital in a working visit on Sunday, his second trip to Cairo in four months, to hold talks with counterpart El Sisi on bilateral issues and the Sudan war.

Addressing reporters, President Kiir said he agreed with El Sisi to invite all of Sudan’s partners and neighbors to their own peace efforts, for the interest of troubled nation.

“We discussed several issues, bilateral, regional and human development in the field of education. He added that the regional level is about the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan,” Kiir said at the press conference.

The meeting between Sudan’s northern and southern neighbors comes amid the resumption of U.S. and Saudi-mediated peace talks in Jeddah to forge a ceasefire.

The two leaders agreed that dialogue is the only way to bring an end to the deadly conflict in Sudan and said they are optimistic about resolving the issue.

In July 2023, President Kiir and regional leaders met in Cairo to attend the Sudan neighbors’ Summit which was convened to “develop effective mechanisms” for peaceful resolution of the situation in Sudan through regional and international efforts.