Ethiopia, Sudan conclude High Level Political Committee Meeting

Addis Ababa, May 18, 2020 (FBC) –Ethiopia and Sudan have concluded their ‘High-level Political Committee Meeting on Border Issues’ that was held on 16-18 May 2020 in Addis Ababa issuing a joint press statement.

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, the statement said.

The statement further disclosed that the two countries have agreed to continue the discussion and to create a conducive environment for the resolution of the boundary issues within the existing frameworks and on the basis of agreed and signed documents.

Being cognizant of the current situation along the border area of the two countries, the meeting “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 joint statement also indicated that the two sides have agreed to convene the next follow up High-Level Political meeting in Khartoum by the end of June 2020.

In the Meeting, the Ethiopian delegation was led by H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, while, the Sudanese delegation was led by H.E. Omar Bashir Manis, Minister for Cabinet Affairs of Sudan.

Prior to the meeting, Omar Bashir Manis had delivered a message from the Prime Minister of Sudan H.E. Abdallah Hamdok to H.E. Abiy Ahmed, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.