Egyptian President to Host Regional Leaders for ‘Emergency Summit’ on Sudan, Libya

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Tuesday will host regional leaders for an “emergency summit” to discuss ongoing upheavals in North Africa. A statement released by Sisi’s office noted that those gathered would focus on “the evolution of the situation in Sudan,” where months-long protests demanding an end to military rule continue even after longtime strongman Omar al-Bashir was deposed. Attendees will also discuss “stemming the current crisis” in Libya, where Khalifa Haftar is spearheading an offensive on the capital Tripoli, the seat of the internationally recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. The statement made no mention of Algeria, however, where mass public demonstrations also recently led to the toppling of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who ruled for nearly two decades. Sisi currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union.