UN envoy elicits ‘desire’ for Eritrea-Sudan talks

KHARTOUM, July 17 (AFP) — Sudan’s foreign minister said Sunday that a UN envoy made progress during talks aimed at resolving a burgeoning rebellion in eastern Sudan that has raised fears of a new Darfur-like conflict in the vast country.

Special UN envoy Jan Pronk arrived in the Eritrean capital of Asmara Thursday for talks over the tense situation in Sudan’s eastern Red Sea state where rebels launched their first offensive last month.

Pronk vowed to pursue peace efforts in the east and met President Isaias Afwerki, Foreign Minister Ali Seid Abdella and leaders of the Eastern Front rebel group.

“Mr. Pronk, following his return from Asmara, conveyed to me a desire by (Isaias) in normalising his country’s ties with the Sudan in addition to a desire by the holders of arms in the east for dialogue and negotiation with the government,” Ismail said.

However, Ismail said: “It is premature to speak about the outcome of those contacts,” and gave no further details.

Eritrea’s hosting of an Eastern Front office has poisoned already poor ties between Asmara and Khartoum which last month warned that the common border could “explode” if Eritrea continues alleged military support for the rebels.

Eritrea has denied any military backing for the group, which was founded in February by the opposition Beja Congress and Free Lions movements, and accused Khartoum of committing atrocities in eastern Sudan as well as in Darfur.