Sudanese president arrives in UAE for talks

February 21, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a four-day visit during which he will hold talks with senior officials there.

Bashir’s delegation included defense minister Abdul-Rahim Mohammed Hussein, minister of Presidential Affairs Salah al-Din Wansi, foreign minister Ali Karti, finance minister Badr al-Din Mahmoud, investment minister Mustafa Osman Ismail, minerals minister Mohamed Sadiq al-Karuri, intelligence director Mohamed Atta Abbas al-Moula, commerce minister Osman Omer al-Shareef, minister of labor Ishraqa Sayed Mahmoud and others.

Last week, Sudan’s investment minister told reporters that Bashir will visit several Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain to strengthen bilateral ties with these countries.

Relations between Khartoum and major Arab Gulf states have cooled over the former’s ties with Iran.

However, last year Sudanese authorities ordered the closure of Iranian cultural centre in the capital Khartoum, and other states and expelled the cultural attaché in a move which was seen as gesture to these countries.

The composition of Bashir’s delegation indicates a push for more UAE investments in the Sudanese economy which has faltered since the oil-rich south seceded in 2011.

(ST)