In a decisive move reflecting growing regional concerns, Egyptian and Sudanese authorities launched a major joint security operation in Sudan’s Blue Nile state on December 22, 2025. The effort, which targeted armed groups believed to be destabilizing the area, marks a significant escalation in cross-border security cooperation between the two nations. According to statements from both Egyptian and Sudanese officials, the operation was meticulously coordinated and involved a sweeping deployment of security personnel, advanced military equipment, and intelligence resources.
The roots of this operation can be traced to a series of high-level discussions and warnings issued by Egyptian leadership in recent weeks. As reported by RT Arabic and Al-Sudani, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty made clear that Cairo considered the unity and stability of Sudan to be a matter of vital national interest. "Egypt will not allow any harm to come to Sudan’s national institutions or for them to collapse," he stated emphatically, underscoring that these issues represent "red lines" for Egyptian security policy. This sentiment was echoed in a stern statement from the Egyptian presidency following a visit by Sudan’s de facto leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to Cairo. The statement asserted that any threat to Sudan’s territorial integrity or its military institutions would be interpreted as a direct threat to Egyptian national security, and that Egypt reserved the right to act under the terms of their longstanding mutual defense agreement.
On December 21, 2025, Egyptian Minister of Interior Abdul Ati Sarabian announced that Egypt had begun coordinating closely with the Sudanese armed forces and local authorities in the Blue Nile region. The operation, which unfolded over the following days, was described as a response to the growing threat posed by armed groups operating near the border. According to Jeridat Ard Biladi, the security sweep was extensive, involving a large number of personnel and the deployment of advanced military equipment. The stated aim was to eliminate groups that have been sowing instability and threatening the safety of both Sudanese and Egyptian citizens.
Minister Sarabian was unequivocal about the seriousness of the situation. "Egypt will continue its efforts to secure its borders and combat armed groups," he declared, emphasizing that the operation was part of a broader strategy to prevent infiltration by hostile elements into Egyptian territory. Egyptian security forces, he said, had been monitoring the movements and communications of these groups for some time, gathering the intelligence needed to act decisively.
The operation was not launched in isolation. Sudanese government officials confirmed that the effort was a fully coordinated endeavor, with local security forces and community leaders playing a crucial role. Local sources told Jeridat Ard Biladi that the operation resulted in several arrests and the seizure of weapons and explosives, a tangible blow to the armed groups’ capacity to operate. Community support was reportedly strong, with many residents expressing relief and gratitude that authorities were taking concrete steps to restore peace and security to the troubled region.
Behind the scenes, Egypt’s actions reflect a careful balancing act. While Egyptian officials have denied allegations—circulated by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces—that Egypt has conducted airstrikes or direct military interventions in Sudan, they have been clear that their support for Sudan remains, for now, largely political and diplomatic. "Egypt always sides with the national state and completely rejects any parallel entities," Foreign Minister Abdel Aaty told RT Arabic. He insisted that claims of Egyptian military interference were "pure fabrications with no basis in reality."
At the same time, Egypt has made it clear that it is prepared to take further steps if necessary. The government’s invocation of the bilateral mutual defense agreement with Sudan signals a willingness to escalate should the situation deteriorate further. As Minister Abdel Aaty explained, "International law allows countries to provide assistance to others at their request to preserve the unity and integrity of their territories and national institutions." The message, he said, was directed at "anyone who might contemplate tampering with Sudan’s security."
The operation in Blue Nile state is just one facet of a broader, ongoing crisis in Sudan. The country has been wracked by violence and political instability since the outbreak of conflict between rival military factions in 2023. The humanitarian toll has been immense, with thousands killed and millions displaced. In recent weeks, the city of El Fasher has become a flashpoint, with civilians fleeing massacres and seeking refuge wherever they can. Egypt, for its part, has been pushing for a humanitarian ceasefire, working with regional and international partners—including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States—to broker a truce that could pave the way for a more durable peace.
Minister Abdel Aaty expressed cautious optimism, noting that there was "readiness on the Sudanese side to create safe havens that provide protection for civilians who have fled the horrors of massacres in El Fasher." He stressed that Egypt’s priority is to secure a humanitarian truce, which could then lead to a permanent ceasefire and the start of a comprehensive political process—one that excludes no one and allows the Sudanese people to determine their own future without outside interference.
For residents of the Blue Nile region, the joint Egyptian-Sudanese operation represents a glimmer of hope amid a landscape of uncertainty. As security forces swept through towns and villages, many locals expressed hope that the crackdown would finally bring some measure of stability. The operation’s success, as measured by the arrests made and weapons seized, has been welcomed by community leaders eager to see an end to the cycle of violence and lawlessness that has plagued the area.
Yet, the situation remains precarious. Armed groups continue to pose a threat, and the risk of further escalation cannot be discounted. Egyptian authorities have pledged to maintain vigilance, promising that efforts to secure the border and combat infiltration will continue. The broader regional implications are clear: as long as instability festers in Sudan, the security of neighboring Egypt—and indeed the wider region—remains at risk.
As the dust settles in Blue Nile state, the joint operation stands as a testament to the deepening ties between Egypt and Sudan in the face of common threats. Whether this latest effort will mark a turning point in the region’s troubled history remains to be seen, but for now, the message from Cairo and Khartoum is unmistakable: unity and security are non-negotiable priorities.
