August 16, 2017 at 12:16 am | Published in: Africa, Ethiopia, News, Sudan

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn [file photo]

Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Dessalines [file photo]

On Tuesday, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, left for a three-day visit to Sudan at the head of a high level delegation.

Desalegn discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties between Khartoum and Addis Ababa, as well as regional and international issues of common concern, with Sudanese officials.

According to the spokesman for the Ethiopian foreign ministry, Meles Alem, the visit comes after an invitation by Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir.

In a statement to Anadolu Agency, Alem said Desalegn’s visit

comes within the framework of developing bilateral relations between the two countries in different fields, and it aims at strengthening bilateral cooperation, as well as discussing bilateral, regional and international issues.

Sudan and Ethiopia had concluded eight bilateral agreements regarding peace, security, commercial and economic cooperation, road linkage, electricity, border development and others.

Desalegn “will hold talks with Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries and regional and international issues of common concern,” according to a statement issued by the Sudanese president’s office, last Sunday.

The statement also clarified that Desalegn was accompanied by Minister of Communication Negeri Lencho, Minister of Energy, Water and Electricity Sileshi Bekele, as well as Ambassador Berhani Jibrkristos, the special advisor to the Prime Minister as well as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hirut Zemene.

Read: Ethiopia backs Sudan in Egypt border dispute

SOURCE    –     MEMO MIDLE EAST MONITORMiddle East MonitorMiddle East Monitor