Sudan’s military leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan arrived in Egypt on Tuesday, about a week after he left the capital Khartoum, where his troops have been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April.
Gen Al Burhan is to hold talks with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
Mr El Sisi received Gen Al Burhan on his arrival at New Alamein, a resort city on the Mediterranean coast and the summer seat of Cairo’s government. Discussions are to take place there.
Egypt views Sudan as the strategic depth of its national security sphere, always concerned that chaos or foreign meddling there would affect the country’s stability.
Besides sharing the middle and northern reaches of the river Nile – a lifeline to both nations – there is a community of about five million Sudanese who have for decades made Egypt home.
The two nations also share close cultural and social ties.
Under Gen Al Burhan’s rule, Egypt and Sudan forged close military ties, including the conclusion of a military co-operation agreement and conducting several joint war games. In contrast, Egypt has kept Gen Al Burhan’s rival, RSF commander Gen Mohamed Dagalo, at arm’s length.
Egypt has not openly sided with Gen Al Burhan in his war against the RSF and last month it convened a summit of Sudan’s neighbours in an attempt to find a diplomatic end to the conflict.
The war between Burhan and his former deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has raged since April 15.
It has spread from Khartoum and the western region of Darfur to Kordofan and Gazira state, killing thousands and forcing millions to flee their homes.
For months, the RSF had besieged Burhan inside military headquarters in Khartoum, but last week the army chief made his first public foray outside the compound to review troops in parts of the war-scarred country.