Germany, Sudan sign €51m cooperation agreement

Germany and Sudan signed a €51 million cooperation agreement in Khartoum on Thursday for the implementation of development projects in eastern Sudan and Darfur.

The agreement was signed by the Sudanese International Cooperation Minister Kamal Hassan Ali and the German State Secretary for Economic Cooperation and Development, Thomas Silberhorn.

Following a meeting with First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Saleh on Tuesday, Silberhorn said the grant aimed to support Sudanese government efforts to host refugees and displaced people in the country.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Ali expressed his country’s appreciation for the German support. He further stressed his country’s commitment to facilitate the work of the organisations implementing the German aid.

For his part, the German State Secretary said this step opens a new page of joint cooperation with Sudan. He added that the talks to enhance cooperation between the two countries have been intense.

According to Berlin, the international community’s tough approach policy of Sudan has failed to bring any change.

Europe’s migration crisis allowed the German government to further develop its good relations with Khartoum and provide direct assistance to Sudan, which is viewed as regional ally that can help to stop the flow of migrants from Eritrea and Ethiopia to Europe.

During a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Wednesday, the visiting German official announced his government’s decision to increase its support for projects in eastern Sudan to €10 million.

Ghandour will fly to Berlin soon for bilateral talks with his German counterpart.

(Sudan Tribune)