Kuwait willing to assist Sudan with debt relief efforts

January 18, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir met on Tuesday with the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in the Red Sea resort of Sharm Al Sheikh on the sidelines of the Arab Economic summit that starts on Wednesday.

Sudan’s state media quoted foreign minister Ali Karti as saying that the meeting took place to thank the Kuwaiti leader for the projects it undertook in Sudan following the meetings of the joint committee.

He said that Al-Sabah was briefed on developments in Sudan following the conclusion of the South Sudan referendum and the preparations by Khartoum to face the upcoming period.

The Sudanese top diplomat said they also tackled the issue of external debt in light of the fact that Kuwait is one of Sudan’s largest creditors.

He said that the Emir promised that his country will not dissent from Arab position on Sudan’s debt.

Sudan has been lobbying intensively particularly among Western nations to have its debt canceled as a reward for letting the referendum go smoothly and without issues.

Research fellow Ben Leo and his assistant Ross Thuotte from the Center for Global Development wrote in the Huffington Post last year that the Arab Gulf states of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait own most of Sudan’s debt ($6 billion and $3 billion respectively).

Sudan has long complained that political discord with the West has prevented it from joining the debt relief program known as the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC).

Most of Sudan’s debt dates back to the days of late president Ga’afar Nimeiry. It grew from $9 billion in 1985 to its current levels.

The United States promised to assist Sudan internationally with its debt relief effort but cautioned that this is a lengthy and complex process.

(ST)