Sudan closes Eritrean opposition radio

Nov 10, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese Authorities have closed down an Eritrean opposition radio station, Al-Sharq, which was broadcasting from Khartoum.

A source with close links to the Eritrean opposition said the decision was taken due to closer ties between Khartoum and Asmara, the Khartoum based al-Sahafa reported Friday.

Al-Sahafah was unable to solicit any official response on the matter.

The source said the station’s administrators had closed its doors and laid off its employees at the beginning of the month.

They said station began broadcasting a year ago from Khartoum and Khashm al-Girbah in eastern Sudan, with its programmes directed against President Isayas Afewerki’s regime, reaching deep into Eritrean and Sudanese territory nine hours a day.

After the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement by the Sudanese government and the former rebel SPLM on January 2005, Sudan and Eritrea started a timid rapprochement under the initiative of the former ally of Asmara, the SPLM.

Following last month’s signing of an Eritrean-mediated peace between the Sudanese government and eastern rebels, Eritrea and Sudan had fully restored cross-border links at a ceremony on Friday Nov 3.

The Eritrean Sudanese rapprochement is also followed with worry by the Ethiopian government.

Sudan will provide Eritrea with oil and Transboundary trade will help Asmara to face food shortage.

(ST)