Sudan and the United States have discussed how Khartoum could advance Arab-Israeli peace, authorities said on Wednesday, adding the talks also covered the removal of the former hardline foe of Israel from a U.S. list of terrorism sponsors.
Meeting in the United Arab Emirates, a Sudanese delegation and U.S. officials held talks on how peace could stabilize the region and secure a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian question, the ruling sovereign council said.
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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) poses for a picture with Sudan's Sovereign Council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Khartoum
(Photo: AFP)
The UAE, a leading regional partner of the United States, and Bahrain normalized ties with Israel this month in deals brokered by Washington, the first Arab states in a quarter of a century to break a longstanding taboo.
In August, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raised the issue of Sudan establishing ties with Israel during a visit. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok told him at the time he had no mandate to do so.
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Palestinians burn mock coffins representing the United Arab Emirates and Bahraini normalization agreements with Israel
(Photo: AP)
A Sudanese team led by General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, head of the council, flew to the UAE on Sunday to hold talks with U.S. officials on several issues including the removal of Sudan from a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Sudanese officials held "serious and frank talks" on the future of Arab-Israeli peace, which would lead to "stability in the region and preserve the right of the Palestinian people to establish their state according to the vision of a two-state solution", a council statement said after the return of the delegation.
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(L-R) Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan participate in the signing of the Abraham Accords where the countries of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognize Israel, at the White House in Washington
(Photo: AFP)
The two sides also discussed "the role that Sudan is expected to play in achieving this peace," it said, without giving any details.
The council, made up of the military and civilians, has been in charge of Sudan since the toppling of autocrat Omar al-Bashir last year.
Ties with Israel are a sensitive issue in Sudan, which was among the hardline Arab foes of Israel under Bashir.
In February, Burhan met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Uganda, a meeting condemned by Sudanese protesters. He afterward cast doubt on any rapid normalization of relations, though Israeli aircraft soon began overflying Sudan.
The talks also tackled lifting Sudan from the terrorism list, which hinders its ability to access foreign loans to tackle an economic crisis, the council said, without giving details.