MEE: Egypt, Türkiye step up military support for Sudanese army after fall of El-Fasher VIDEO

Egypt and Türkiye are intensifying their military backing for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) capture of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur — a development that has alarmed regional powers and shifted the dynamics of Sudan’s war, Middle East Eye reports.

For Cairo, the fall of el-Fasher marks a critical moment. The Egyptian government views the RSF’s territorial gains, particularly along the border triangle shared with Libya and Sudan, as a direct threat to its southern security flank. In response, Egypt has reinforced its frontier positions, expanded intelligence coordination with Khartoum, and begun joint operations planning to push back the RSF.

Egyptian military sources told Middle East Eye that Cairo and Khartoum are setting up joint command centres in North Kordofan and el-Obeid to coordinate efforts against the RSF. Egypt has supplied the Sudanese army with weapons, operational guidance, and radar systems, while increasing aerial patrols along the frontier to monitor RSF movements.

Türkiye has emerged as a key partner in this military buildup. Turkish officials say Ankara has provided the SAF with drones, air-to-surface missiles, and command centres since last year, and intends to expand support in the wake of the atrocities committed by the RSF in el-Fasher. “We were already planning to send more systems, but the el-Fasher pogroms have only strengthened our resolve,” a Turkish source told MEE.

Ankara’s assistance also includes the deployment of Turkish drone operators inside Sudan and coordination with Egyptian forces to stabilise Darfur and prevent further RSF territorial gains. The collaboration marks a rare convergence between two former regional rivals, driven by shared security concerns over Sudan’s fragmentation and the potential spread of instability northward.

The RSF’s control over Darfur and key smuggling routes linking Sudan to Libya and Chad has heightened fears in both Cairo and Ankara that the conflict could empower armed networks across the region. Egypt’s long-standing ally, the United Arab Emirates — accused by Western and Sudanese officials of arming the RSF — adds another layer of complexity to Cairo’s calculations.

By deepening military cooperation, Egypt and Türkiye are positioning themselves as decisive external actors in Sudan’s war, determined to prevent the RSF from consolidating control and to restore the SAF’s hold over the country’s fractured western regions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev