Sudanese military ruler arrives in Egypt on first foreign trip since start of war

(Patria) - Sudanese military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met with his Egyptian counterpart on Tuesday on his first foreign trip since the outbreak of war in Sudan in April, a day after rejecting calls for new negotiations, Reuters reported.

They discussed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's offer to mediate the conflict during a brief meeting in the coastal city of El Alamein, an initiative welcomed by Burhan, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

On Monday, Burhan said the regular army he leads would defeat the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and would never sign an agreement with them, dashing hopes for negotiations to end the war that has plunged Sudan into a humanitarian crisis.

This is the first time Burhan has left Sudan since the conflict began on April 15, which erupted amid disagreement over plans to integrate their troops into a single force as part of a transition to democracy.

Burhan is also expected to visit Saudi Arabia, which together with the United States held meetings with the two sides that produced ceasefire agreements that were violated within a short time.

In brief comments from El Alamein, Burhan said he wanted to end the war but did not mention the possibility of talks.

"We ask the world to take an objective and correct view of this war. This war was started by a group that wanted to seize power and in the process committed every crime that came to mind," Burhan said.