United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Cairo on Saturday for diplomatic consultations aimed at easing regional tensions.
The UN office in Cairo stated on X that discussions centred on regional developments and advancing peace through dialogue. Officials also examined ways to reinforce cooperation between the UN and the Arab League to foster stability and sustainable development across the region.
Guterres met with the UN country team in Egypt and various regional directors. The meetings focused on UN operations alongside the Egyptian government and support for populations affected by humanitarian crises in Gaza and Sudan.
Egypt currently hosts numerous Palestinians who left the Gaza Strip following the war that began in October 2023, including wounded individuals and patients who need medical care. The country is also sheltering Sudanese refugees who escaped the conflict that started in April 2023.
Government estimates referenced in a 2025 UNICEF report showed that more than 1.2 million Sudanese arrived in Egypt after the war began. Around 5 million Sudanese were already residing in the country prior to that conflict. Official statistics regarding the number of Palestinians who entered Egypt are not available.
The diplomatic consultations led by Guterres also address efforts to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran. He is working to support a diplomatic resolution in cooperation with Egypt as well as regional and international partners.
Guterres published a statement on X indicating he brought a message demanding an end to the expansion of the war. His message also emphasized the protection of civilians and the establishment of conditions necessary for diplomacy and peace.
We must tackle the inequalities that divide societies, and stop the conflicts that are multiplying human suffering and pushing an already unequal world further apart, Guterres wrote.
The UN chief and the Arab League secretary-general previously met last month on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Their discussions at that time addressed the impact of regional escalation on Arab security and stability, alongside implications for international shipping, energy security and global trade.
