Jacob Høigilt
is a Middle East researcher with the Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies, Oslo. His research interests focus on ideological currents and discourses in the Arab world, with special reference to Islamism. Among his recent publications are Islamist Rhetoric: Language and...
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is a researcher at the International Peace Research Institute
, Oslo (PRIO) and a member of PRIO’s Conflict Resolution and Peace Building Programme. He is a specialist on security, governance and development issues related to Sudan and the Horn of Africa. Rolandsen has followed developments in th...
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- From impunity to prosecution? Sexual violence in Sudan beyond Darfur
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Liv Tønnessen , 12 March 2012
- Making Cooperation Attractive: Post-referendum Relations between Egypt and the Sudan
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Jacob Høigilt , Øystein H. Rolandsen , 4 January 2011
- The Sudan Referendum and Neighbouring Countries: Egypt and Uganda
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Jacob Høigilt , Åshild Falch , Øystein H. Rolandsen , 4 January 2011
- Darfur between war and peace
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Jacob Høigilt , 11 April 2010
- Sudan and the ICC: One year after
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Øystein H. Rolandsen , 3 March 2010
- Why is violence escalating in Southern Sudan?
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Øystein H. Rolandsen , 4 February 2010
- Noref Report 18 - Land, Security and Peace Building in the Southern Sudan
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14 December 2009
Egypt and the Darfur conflict
Jacob Høigilt
, Øystein H. Rolandsen
, 30 June 2010
Executive summary:
The conflict in Sudan's western province of Darfur has revived even as the peace talks in Qatar between Sudan's government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) seem to have collapsed. Egypt has hitherto refrained from involvement in negotiations to end the conflict, a strategy that has contributed to further diminishing Cairo's already weakened status as a major player in regional politics and diplomacy.
Now, however, several developments present Egypt with an opportunity to assume a more active mediating role. Among these is a direct invitation to Egypt from the JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim. Egypt's position is complicated by its need to balance its relations with Sudan and those of other Sudanese political actors, and inhibited by narrow security calculations – chief among which is ensuring a stable government in Khartoum.
But Egypt still has the political stature and regional influence to impel the parties to the conflict to negotiate in earnest. Such an effort would carry risks for Cairo, not least the possibility of damaging its relationship with both Khartoum and the rebel groups. However, a more active contribution to peace diplomacy over Darfur would restore Egypt's position as a regional heavyweight and could help resolve one of the most intractable disputes of the past decade.
