Ethiopia, Sudan ink an official criminal extradition treaty

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 17, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia and Sudan on Wednesday signed a judicial agreement on the extradition of criminals.

The agreement which was signed in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, between Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Birhan Hailu and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohamed Bushara aims to jointly tackle crime, criminality, enhance regional peace and promote justice in general.

Signing the pact, Hailu said the new judicial accord will boost their existing multi-lateral cooperation and further enhance diplomatic relations between the countries.

Birhan said the agreement on the exchange of convicts between the two countries will enable them to arrest fugitives who try to hide in either territory, after committing serious offences.

He expressed his country’s readiness to share its experience in legal affairs and the justice system and to further promote judicial cooperation with Khartoum.

The Sudanese Minister of Justice, Bushara, who noted the excellent ties between the two countries, expressed Sudan’s determination to implement the new agreement and to further cooperate with Ethiopia in other fields.

Ethiopia and Sudan also have other security accords including the agreement signed last December not to harbour rebel figures or host each other’s rebel forces in their territory – an agreement aimed to enhance border security of the two countries and tackle the military activities of rebel groups.

(ST)