Ethiopia, Sudan Officials to Continue Talks over Border in Khartoum

ADDIS ABABA – Senior government of Sudan and Ethiopia agree to continue their discussion on border-related issues, including illegal activities, in Khartoum next month.

The Sudanese delegation arrived in Ethiopia last Friday for the talks over the border issues days after declining Ethiopian proposal regarding the first phase filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

A joint statement from both parties said that the meeting “was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere reflecting the longstanding fraternal relations between the two countries based on good neighborliness and mutual understanding.”

It will also continue in Khartoum by the end of June 2020, says the statement released after the two-day long meeting.

Leaders of the two nations have already agreed to form a technical body to complete the demarcation of their border.

On Sunday, the two countries agreed to “create conducive environment for the resolution of the boundary issues within the existing frameworks and on the basis of agreed and signed documents” says the joint statement.

Being cognizant of the current situation along the border area of the two countries, the ministry said the two sides also “agreed to strengthen cooperation and to combat any illegal activities and ensure the security of people along the border area and reinforce people-to-people relations.”

The consultation has ended late Sunday with an agreement to continue the discussion on issues related to the two countries’ border, according to the statement.

The meeting held on Saturday and Sunday was attended by a Sudanese delegation, led by Minister of Cabinet Affairs Omar Beshir Manis, and Ethiopia government officials including Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen.

Prior to the meeting, Manis met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and delivered a message from Sudan’s Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok.

After the meeting, Abiy said the high-level meeting was “a demonstration of the long-standing strong ties between our two countries”.

“I am pleased with the discussion we held on jointly strengthening our economies, on #GERD, border issues, as well as the #COVID19 challenge, faced,” he wrote on his Twitter page.