Acting Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary, British officials discuss current issues

Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Nader Yusuf, met yesterday in his office with Director General, Africa at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ambassador Moazzam Malik   and his accompanying delegation comprising the British Ambassador to Khartoum and the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

The meeting discussed a number of issues, foremost of which was the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, where the acting Undersecretary Ambassador Nader Yusuf, affirmed that he understands the dimensions of the crisis, calling for the option of negotiation between the two countries as a way to resolve the crisis by peaceful means.

Regarding Sudan’s position, the acting undersecretary noted that Sudan has its interests that it must achieve in accordance with its optimal options that meet the aspirations of its people.

The British diplomat explained his country’s intention to support Sudan’s democratic transition.

Ambassador Moazzam Malik indicated that he wanted to convince his ministers of the need to support Sudan, however, this requires understandings with the European Union and the African Union, which suspended Sudan’s membership in it.

The British diplomat indicated that his

administration’s contacts with Senegal, which assumes the presidency of the African Union, is necessary to support Sudan to restore membership and return to the democratic path.

With regard to the issue of the Renaissance Dam, Ambassador Moazzam Malik made questions on Sudan’s role in resolving the existing crisis regarding it.

On his part, the Undersecretary affirmed that the solution requires political will in the three countries of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and that Sudan, on its part, sees the need for an agreement and a mechanism that stipulates that Ethiopia shall notify both Sudan and Egypt on any step it takes in this regard, especially since the dam’s location is under Ethiopian sovereignty, but the damage, if it occurs, will affect other countries downstream.