U.S. senators warmly welcomed in Sudan
May 4, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese officials warmly welcomed on Tuesday the visiting U.S. Senators Christopher Coons and Chris Van Hollen who arrived in Khartoum to discuss democratic transition and issues with Ethiopia.
The head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan awarded Coons with Medal of the Republic, one of the country’s three highest honours.
While Hamdok invited them to a diner at his home in Khartoum.
Both wanted to express the gratitude of the Sudanese for his efforts to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
During the day, the visiting lawmakers discussed with the prime minister the democratic reforms and the implementation of the peace agreement signed last October in Juba.
According to the foreign minister Mariam al-Mahdi, Hamdok briefed the delegation about the measures taken by the transitional government to implement the Juba Peace Agreement, its efforts to achieve the transition towards democracy and the completion of the transitional authority structures and the government’s efforts to address the economic situation.
“The meeting further discussed regional developments in the region, including the Renaissance Dam file and the need to reach a binding and legal agreement between the three countries,” al-Mahdi added.
Coons and Hollen held separate meetings with the Sudanese irrigation and justice ministers for more talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the legal reforms in the country.
The visiting delegation did not make statements about the outcome of their meetings with the Sudanese officials.
They are expected to travel to Gadaref on Wednesday to inspect the Ethiopian refugee camps.
In a tweet posted late on Tuesday, Coons expressed his concern about the situation in the northern Ethiopia region of Tigray.
“I remain deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Tigray and lack of actionable progress by the Ethiopian government, and I look forward to furthering U.S. cooperation to resolve this complex issue, al-Fashaga, and the GERD,” he stated.
(ST)