Sudan to inaugurate new presidential palace on Monday

January 25, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir and his staff will officially move in to the new Chinese-built presidential palace on Monday.

The date coincides with the anniversary Khartoum’s liberation from British occupation by forces loyal to religious figure Mohamed Ahmed al-Mahdi in 1885 and the killing of General Charles Gordon in what is now the presidential palace.

Bashir will inaugurate the new palace in the presence of first vice-president General Bakri Hassan Saleh and second vice-president Hassabo Abdel-Rahman along with other executive and parliamentary officials and foreign dignitaries and diplomats.

Presidential press secretary Emad Sid Ahmed said that the new palace “is a source of pride for Sudanese and affirmation of the continued process of development and construction”, adding that it reflects the heritage and authenticity of the Sudanese people.

The three-storey palace, which was funded by Beijing and is located next to the old one along the Blue Nile River, has the capacity to host visiting foreign leaders and large international summits.

Covering a total area of about 18,600 square metres and surrounded by gardens, it also features large ballrooms.

The work on the new palace started in 2010 and was officially completed last September. It was offered to Sudan during a visit by then Chinese president Hu Jintao in 2007.

(ST)