Sudan requests Egypt to explain demand to keep sanctions

Sudan government on Thursday said it asked Egypt to give official explanation for a demand by its deputy representative to the United Nations (UN) to keep the sanctions imposed on Sudan.

"It was an odd and strange stance by the Egyptian deputy representative to the UN when he demanded keeping the sanctions imposed on Sudan during a discussion about Resolution 1591 in the UN Security Council," Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters.

"Sudan has asked for official explanation from Egypt over the matter which is unlike all the previous Egyptian stances throughout the past years," where Egypt was most supportive to Sudan in the UN Security Council, he said.

He added that "we hope this strange stance is not a reflection of some minor differences between the two countries, because if so, it would be contrary to the African, Arab and Egyptian stance which firmly supports Sudan."

In 2005, the UN Security Council adopted the Resolution 1591 imposing sanctions, to be renewed annually, relating to arms embargo on Sudan.

Ghandour further reiterated that his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry would arrive in Khartoum next Thursday to head his country's side to the meetings of the joint political consultation committee between the two countries.

Shoukry was supposed to arrive in Khartoum last Saturday, but his visit was delayed due to weather conditions. Endit