Sudan, Malta discuss migration & bilateral relations
November 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour held talks with his Maltese counterpart prior to the opening of a major migration summit that brought leaders from the African continent and the European Union (EU).
According to a press release by the Maltese foreign ministry, Ghandour gave a detailed overview of the complex migration scenario in Sudan with the country being both a country of origin and of transit.
The two sides also agreed that Libya was central to an effective mitigation of the migration situation in the Mediterranean.
On bilateral relations, the two ministers identified the sectors of education, training and institution-building upon which tangible cooperation could be established in the immediate term.
Vella underlined the need for Khartoum and Juba to fully implement the security and economic agreements relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries.
Ghandour is leading Sudan’s delegation to the summit as Malta is member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which has two arrest warrants outstanding for president Omer Hassan al-Bashir.
There was confusion earlier today on Sudan’s level of attendance as the official summit participants’ list was empty from any Sudanese official.
The EU is expected to offer African states a range of aid as well as easier visa access and lower costs for migrants sending cash home in return for help to curb migration into the European bloc, including by taking back illegal immigrants.
(ST)