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Egypt foreign minister, spy chief visit protest-hit Sudan
KHARTOUM, Dec 27, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Egypt’s foreign minister and
intelligence chief visited Khartoum Thursday for talks with Sudanese
government officials facing deadly protests and calls for President Omar al-
Bashir to step down over price hikes.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and General Abbas Kamel went into meetings
with their Sudanese counterparts soon after arriving, officials said, adding
the two were later expected to meet Bashir.
Egypt’s foreign ministry said earlier that the talks were part of
“directives by the leaders of both countries to develop bilateral relations”.
The visit follows more than a week of demonstrations in Sudan that evolved
into deadly clashes between riot police and protesters angered by increased
bread prices.
Sudanese authorities say eight demonstrators have been killed since
December 19 , but Amnesty International has put the death toll at 37, citing
“credible reports”.
Cairo and Khartoum have recently sought to iron out their differences in a
bid to improve relations roiled by a longstanding border dispute and an
impasse in talks over Ethiopia’s Nile dam.
In October Sudan lifted a ban on agricultural imports from Egypt during a
visit to Khartoum by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
BSS/AFP/RY/1802 hrs