"New era" in ties

Sudan announced a “new era” in relations with Ethiopia on Thursday and said it wanted to improve ties with all its neighbours.

Speaking at the end of a four-day official visit to Ethiopia, Sudanese First Vice President Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha said that closer relations would be “conducive” to all countries in the
Horn of Africa. He said both countries had reached a "common understanding" on many issues.

“The main message of my visit to Addis Ababa this time is to make very clear with my brothers in the leadership of Ethiopia that our relations have entered a new era,” he told journalists. “This new era between the two countries is full of positive accomplishments and is well defined.”

“And these positive results that we are looking for aim for the betterment of the two peoples in the two countries,” he added. He also said both countries hoped to see “durable peace and stability” in Somalia.

Taha said he hoped his country could improve relations with Eritrea. Sudan accuses Eritrea of harbouring Sudanese rebels who use the country as a safe haven and launch guerrilla attacks, charges which Asmara has denied.

“Out of the experience we have, our policy is to normalise our relations with all our neighbours, including Eritrea, but it is true there might be some problems here and there," he said. “But we are very keen to have normal relations with Eritrea and we are working in this respect."

He also said Ethiopia’s demands for the extradition of Sudanese terrorists linked to the 1995 assassination attempt on the Egyptian president in Addis Ababa would not be a stumbling block to better relations. “We have agreed to close all the files and open a new chapter in the relations between the two countries so whatever had been in the past is history,” he said.

Both countries have signed a preferential trade agreement which will help businessmen in Sudan and Ethiopia, Taha noted. “Sudan and Ethiopia have concluded agreements in various fields – in the fields of economy, commerce, the building of infrastructure, roads, telecommunications and others,” he said.

“At the end of the day there will be a financial benefit. It is a continuous process and we are just starting.” Taha said other countries in the Horn and elsewhere in Africa should follow their “exemplary” example of collaboration.