On the sidelines of the first session of the Political Consultation Mechanism between Sudan and Azerbaijan, held in the capital Baku, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Muawiya Osman Khalid, met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.
The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them across various fields, in line with the directives of both countries’ leaderships and reflecting a shared commitment to advancing and developing bilateral cooperation in a manner that serves mutual interests.
During the meeting, the undersecretary outlined the peace initiative presented by the Prime Minister before the UN Security Council last month, describing it as a roadmap that reflects the Sudanese government’s vision for ending the war, achieving peace, and restoring stability. He noted that the initiative has received welcome and support from a number of regional and international states and organizations.
He also addressed the grave violations and atrocities committed by the rebel militia against unarmed civilians, including the systematic targeting of infrastructure and state assets, the destruction of public institutions, looting of property, and obstruction of humanitarian aid delivery. These actions, he said, have exacerbated civilian suffering and led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the region.
In this context, the undersecretary referred to the issue of foreign mercenaries fighting alongside the rebel militia, stressing that the Sudanese Armed Forces represent a long-standing national institution fulfilling its constitutional role in protecting the country and safeguarding its sovereignty. He emphasized that the armed forces are not only confronting an internal rebellion, but also a militia backed by certain regional actors seeking to undermine Sudan’s security and stability.
For his part, the Azerbaijani foreign minister affirmed the importance of developing and strengthening economic relations between the two countries, particularly in the fields of energy and mining, describing them as promising sectors that offer genuine opportunities for cooperation and joint investment and support Sudan’s recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Both sides agreed on the importance of activating existing bilateral agreements and expediting procedures related to new agreements set to be signed in the areas of investment and higher education, in addition to convening meetings of the joint technical committee for cooperation between Sudan and Azerbaijan in the near future, with the aim of expanding cooperation and building a sustainable strategic partnership.
