Sudan Ministry summons Nigerian chargé d’affaires

The State Minister at the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kamal Ismail, on Wednesday summoned the Nigerian acting chargé d'affaires for questioning, according to a report by Sudan’s state news agency. The Minister quizzed the diplomat on a report by local media asserting that he is supportive of a draft resolution tabled by the US, France and UK government s on Human Rights in the Sudan, under Article 4.

The official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the Nigerian diplomat expressed his surprise about the report, and branded it an unfounded media exaggeration.

He said “the Nigerian official pointed to the fact that Nigeria has special bonds of cooperation and coordination with Sudan, at the highest levels”.

He said the diplomat has meanwhile stressed that his country remains committed to the African consensus with regards to the issues of the continent in general and the Sudan in particular. He said the diplomat has promised to contact his government and return with their correct position as soon as possible.

The Sudanese mission in Geneva has said that Nigeria stands solidly with the African position and that there was in fact no resolution at this meeting related to Article 4.

The spokesman said that in a phone call by the Nigerian Ambassador with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following his return to Khartoum on Wednesday evenig, the diplomat stressed the incorrectness of the circulated report, that the position of his country has never changed, and that it stands with the African consensus in supporting Sudan without any hesitation.

(Source: SUNA)