Sudanese-British strategic dialogue session kicked off

Khartoum,   (SUNA) – A round of Sudanese-British strategic dialogue was launched in Khartoum today, Tuesday, October 19, 2021, co-chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi and Minister for Africa at the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Vicky Ford.

The inaugural sitting of the session, which was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was addressed by the two ministers besides Minister of Cabinet Affairs Khalid Omer Yusuf.

The Sudanese side at the talks included Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the Sudanese delegation, Ambassador Mohamed Sharif Abdalla,  and the membership of Assistant Undersecretary for Political Affairs Ambassador Elham Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmed, Director General of European and American Affairs Department Ambassador Mohamed Abdalla Ali Al-Toum and a number of other directors of relevant departments.

The United Kingdom’s delegation included the British Ambassador to Khartoum, Mr. Giles Lever, Britain’s Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Mr. Robert Fairweather, the Deputy British Ambassador to Sudan Ms. Hazel Mowbray and a number of other members of the embassy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed her warm welcome to Ms. Ford and the accompanying delegation, noting the historical relations linking Sudan and the United Kingdom, saying that this ancient legacy of historical ties constitutes a positive asset that stimulates the launch of the strategic dialogue towards the promising goals that the two friendly countries aspire for.

The minister praised Britain’s support to Sudan and its assistance in overcoming the challenges of the democratic transition, expressing at the same time Sudan’s aspiration for more British support in this regard.

For her part, the UK Minister, Vicky Ford, expressed thanks for the warm reception and hospitality, expressing her delight to visit Sudan.

Ms. Ford expressed her admiration for the great achievements that the transitional government was able to achieve in a short period of time despite the great challenges it faced, stressing that they are counting on the strategic dialogue to lay strong foundations for a solid partnership with Sudan.

She also expressed her country’s commitment to continuing to support and make the democratic transition process in Sudan a success in various fields, such as: empowering women and youth, legal reform, the relationship with the International Criminal Court, achieving transitional justice, economic reform, and supporting the Juba Peace Agreement, as well as enhancing cooperation and cultural exchange through activation of the role of the British Council.

For his part, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Khalid Omer Yusuf reviewed in his address the challenges facing the transitional government that are represented in the need to reform the security sector, fix distortions in the economic sector, especially in light of the Corona pandemic, implement the Juba Peace Agreement and provide the requirements for its implementation, protect civilians, reform the civil service and complete building of transition institutions