Ethiopia’s PM Ahmed visits Sudan, discusses peace with Burhan
July 9, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – In the first visit by a foreign head of government since the outbreak of war in Sudan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with the head of the Sovereign Council and Sudanese army commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Port Sudan on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed the ongoing conflict and potential paths to peace.
Upon arrival, Ahmed was warmly received by General al-Burhan. According to a statement released by the Sovereign Council, al-Burhan briefed the visiting Prime Minister on the situation in Sudan, highlighting the “rebellion of the terrorist Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia against the state and its institutions.”
Al-Burhan accused the RSF of committing atrocities against Sudanese civilians, destroying state infrastructure, and targeting national institutions, added the statement.
Ahmed, who departed hours after his arrival, emphasized the importance of peace as the foundation for development. He stressed that the problems of nations should be resolved internally without external interference.
He further expressed solidarity with the Sudanese people, stating, “True friends appear in times of hardship.” He affirmed Ethiopia’s unwavering support for Sudan, both governmentally and at the popular level, and expressed confidence that the war would end, leaving the relationship between the two countries stronger than ever.
The two leaders held a closed-door meeting to discuss the Sudanese crisis and ways to end the war.
Multiple reports suggest that the Sudanese and Ethiopian leaders also discussed the situation in eastern Sudan, including the possibility of an RSF attack on Gedaref and the potential for the conflict to spill over into Ethiopia.
Ethiopian analysts have warned that an alliance between Amhara Fano militias and the RSF could destabilize the region, given the undisciplined nature of both forces and their shared propensity for looting and attacks against civilians.
Sources indicate that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Port Sudan followed a phone call with the U.S. envoy to Sudan, who had also spoken with the Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister, a recent visitor to Sudan.
The army has stated that it will not engage in talks with the RSF until they fulfil the terms of the May 11, 2023 agreement, which requires the withdrawal of RSF fighters from urban areas to designated cantonment sites outside of cities.