Ethiopia, Sudan leaders confer on bilateral, regional issues

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

October 15, 2022 (NAIROBI) – Sudanese Head of State and Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Saturday paid a visit to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa where he held talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

According to state media reports, the two leaders discussed bilateral and regional issues of common concern.

Abiy and al-Burhan held the discussions on the sidelines of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, which is taking place in Bahir Dar city of the Amhara region.

“Our two countries have a long history of friendship. We discussed bilateral and regional issues at Bahir Dar, drawing on our countries’ long-standing ties,” Prime Minister Abiy said in a tweet.

“It is my belief that we will continue to build on the existing foundations between our countries,” the premier added.

In Khartoum, the Sovereign Council said the two leaders agreed to solve the border dispute through negotiation.

For his part, Foreign Minister Ali Sadiq stated that the meeting dealt with bilateral relations, particularly, the issues of border, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and economic and trade integration between the two countries.

The Tenth Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa kicked off in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, under the theme: “Managing Security Threats — Building Resilience for Africa We Want.”

Chief Administrator of the Amhara Regional State Yilkal Kefale welcomed participants in his opening speech.

Mr Yilkal said that the Tana High-Level Forum will serve as a significant platform to bring various ideas and experiences for sustainable peace and management of security in Africa.

Speaking at the event, al-Burhan said Tana Forum is an excellent platform to address the root causes of African problems.

He commended Tana Forum as “an African intellectual assembly in which opinions are integrated, concepts are united, and a fruitful discussion is conducted with the aim of reaching the best ways to address the root causes of our various African problems”

He said, Tana High-level Forum on Security in Africa is being held in light of the grave repercussions left by the spread of the CORONA, challenges related to peace and security, and risks threatening food security with the spread of natural disasters resulting from climate change.

According to him, as an active country in its regional environment, Sudan has been keen to participate constructively in the activities of the Tana Forum since its inception.

“We look forward to this session reaching positive outcomes that contribute to achieving security and stability in the region and enhance the growth and prosperity of people,” said General al-Burhan.

He further noted that Sudan faces many challenges and complications, but the indicators are now more positive and call for optimism and herald the imminent success of reaching an agreement with the participation of most of the political and societal power and the parties to peace.

Measures necessary to hold free and transparent elections at the end of the transitional period are in place.

“For our part, we affirm our firm positions that we announced, which require the withdrawal and exit of the military force from the political debate to disperse, to perform its basic tasks in protecting and maintaining the security and sovereignty of the country” the Sudanese president added.

He further stated that the causes of instability in Africa are to come up with conclusions that lead to practical results to the achievement of sustainable peace and food security and to address the ways to achieve security and stability in a way that contributes to realizing the slogan of finding African solutions to African problems.

As well as Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, other African leaders, senior scholars and researchers from several countries are in attendance at the forum.

The Tana Forum was established to play a crucial role in bringing about sustainable peace and contribute to the implementation of the African Union’s Tripoli Declaration of August 2009.

(ST)