Egypt rejects attempts to form parallel Sudanese govt: statement

Egypt rejected on Sunday attempts aimed at establishing a rival government in Sudan, warning that such moves jeopardised the "unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the war-torn country.

Sudan has been locked in a war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for nearly two years, plunging the country into what the United Nations describes as one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory.

A week ago, the RSF and its allies signed a charter in Kenya declaring the formation of a "government of peace and unity" in areas under their control.

The paramilitaries' move to form a rival government has drawn sharp criticism, including from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned it would "further deepen Sudan's fragmentation".

Saudi Arabia, which previously mediated ceasefire talks between the warring sides, also rejected the RSF's move.

In a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency on Friday, Riyadh's foreign ministry warned against "any step or illegal measure taken outside the framework of official institutions".

At a UN Human Rights Council dialogue on Friday, Saudi Arabia's Gulf neighbour Qatar also expressed its support for "Sudan's unity and territorial integrity".

The United Arab Emirates, which has repeatedly been accused of supplying the RSF with weapons claims it has denied has not commented yet.