Cairo summit agrees on mechanism to end deadly conflict in Sudan
Seven countries take part in the summit, including Ethiopia, South Sudan, Libya, and Chad.
Sudan's neighbouring countries have agreed in a meeting held in Cairo to establish a ministerial mechanism to stop the fighting between the Sudanese belligerent parties.
The announcement was made on Thursday in the final statement of the summit read by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi.
"It has been agreed on establishing a ministerial mechanism that will convene for its first meeting in Chad to set an executive action plan to stop the fighting and to reach a comprehensive settlement to the crisis in Sudan," said the statement.
It also urged full respect for Sudan's sovereignty and its territorial integrity.
Earlier on Thursday, a summit of the neighbours of conflict-torn Sudan began in Egypt’s capital to help settle the ongoing crisis in the North African country that erupted in mid-April.
At the opening session, Sisi said the summit is being held at a "historic moment," urging the halt of all military operations in Sudan, according to Egyptian daily Youm7.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said "top officials" are taking part in the summit but did not specify their names or the number of countries attending.
Deadly clashes
Sudanese diplomatic sources, however, said that the summit is being attended by Egypt's Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and President of South Sudan Salva Kiir.
The sources, who asked to remain anonymous, added that the summit is also being attended by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Chad's transitional President Mahamat Idriss Deby, Libya's Presidential Council Chair Mohamed Menfi, and President of the Central African Republic Faustin Archange Touadera.
Sudan has been ravaged by clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April in a conflict that has killed some 3,000 civilians and injured thousands, according to local medics.
Several ceasefire agreements brokered by Saudi and US mediators between the warring rivals have failed to end the violence in the country.
The International Organization for Migration estimates that nearly 3 million people have been displaced by the current conflict in Sudan.