Sudanese Official Hails “Strategic” Ties with Qatar

Sudan’s Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid hailed Monday ties with Qatar, describing it as strategic and deep-rooted.
Speaking exclusively to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Hamid said that he held talks with Qatari officials in Doha on a number of political subjects. He added that the two sides discussed how to coordinate on the regional and international levels to advance the two countries’ interests. Furthermore, Hamid said that talks discussed enhancing economic ties to reflect the commitment of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and President of Sudan Omar Al Basheer to advancing bilateral relations. Talks also focused on the cultural field, the Sudanese official added. He highlighted the strong presence of Qatar in the cultural scene in Sudan.
Hamid also met with officials from Qatar Chamber to discuss investment opportunities available in Sudan for the Qatari private sector. They focused in particular on the agricultural, mining and real estate sectors.
The Sudanese official then expressed his thanks to the State of Qatar for its role in pushing forward the peace process in Darfur. He praised the Doha peace document and the international community’s consensus over it after it was signed by the United Nations, African Union and the Arab league. He also highlighted the role of Qatar in backing developmental projects in Darfur, such as the Darfur development bank which the State of Qatar is supporting.
He stressed that the referendum that will take place in Darfur over the next few days is strictly administrative. The referendum aims to determine whether Darfur will be considered one region or remain as it is comprised of five states.
On relations between Sudan and the South of Sudan after the UN called on Sudan to consider South Sudanese citizens in Sudan as refugees rather than foreigners, Hamid said that Sudan is keen on enhancing ties with its neighbors in Juba.
He told QNA that the national dialogue in Sudan is set to yield a national document, the first of its kind in Sudan in 60 years.