Qatar Emir to visit Sudan on Saturday

February 20 (KHARTOUM) – The Qatari Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, is expected to arrive in the Sudanese capital on Saturday on a one day visit for talks with the Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

Last Tuesday the Qatari government sponsored a goodwill agreement between the Sudanese government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement before to engage peace talks for the resolution of the six-year conflict in Darfur.

The visiting Emir is expected to discuss with the President Bashir the implementation of confidence building measures included in the Doha agreement particularly the release of JEM members sentenced to death by the Sudanese courts after an attack on Khartoum last May.

The issue failed to cause the end of the one week talks on the goodwill deal without agreement. Sudan Tribune has learnt that the Qatari officials had to deal with the Sudanese President personally by telephone to get his approval on this measure. The negotiating delegation had no power to decide on the issue.

Qatar was also one of the countries that worked hard to convince UN Security Council to suspend the indictment of Al-Bashir last July and this month.

(ST)