Eritrea–Sudan relations

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Eritrea-Sudan relations
Map indicating locations of Eritrea and Sudan

Eritrea
Sudan

Eritrea–Sudan relations have historically been tense but have normalized in recent years.

By the end of 1993, shortly after Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea charged Sudan with supporting the activities of Eritrean Islamic Jihad, which carried out attacks against the Eritrean government.[1] Eritrea broke relations with Sudan at the end of 1994, became a strong supporter of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), and permitted the opposition National Democratic Alliance to locate its headquarters in the former Sudan embassy in Asmara.[1] At the urging of the United States, Ethiopia and Eritrea joined Uganda in the so-called Front Line States strategy, which was designed to put military pressure on the Sudanese government.[1]

Eritrea's surprise May 1998 invasion of the Ethiopian-administered border village of Badme dramatically changed the political situation in the region.[1] Operating on the axiom that the “enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Ethiopia normalized relations with Sudan by the end of 1998, and Eritrea reestablished ties with Sudan in 2000.[1] Although Sudan and Eritrea continued to maintain diplomatic relations, real improvement in ties was short lived.[1] Sudan closed its border with Eritrea in 2002, and the Sudanese foreign minister charged in February 2003 that Eritrea had amassed forces along the border with Sudan. The Sudanese government also accused Eritrea of supporting rebel groups in Darfur.[1] The undemarcated border with Sudan also posed a problem for Eritrean external relations.[2]

Eritrea resumed diplomatic relations with Sudan on December 10, 2005.[3] The presidents of Sudan and Eritrea met for the first time in five years in mid-2006 in Khartoum.[1] Eritrea played a prominent role in brokering a peace agreement between the Sudanese government and Sudan's Eastern Front.[1][4][5] This put Sudan–Eritrea relations on a new, positive track, although Sudan remained worried about Eritrea's activities in Darfur.[1][6] The nations’ leaders met again in Khartoum near the end of 2006 and frequently in subsequent years.[1] In 2007 President Isaias Afwerki also met with Salva Kiir in Juba.[1] Isaias described relations with Sudan as resting on solid ground and having “bright prospects.”[1] Eritrea seemed to have ended its contacts with Darfur rebel groups and become supportive of the NPC in Sudan.[1] It also established a consulate-general in South Sudan's capital of Juba, and its consul-general in May 2010 expressed support for the principle of self-determination.[1] The same month, Yemane Ghebremeskel, a senior adviser to Isaias, commented that Eritrea hoped the January 2011 referendum would lead to the unity of Sudan.[1]

The Eritrean President, Isaias Afewerki, and his Sudanese counterpart Omar Al-Bashir held talks in Asmara on a number of bilateral issues of mutual concern to the two East African countries. The talks dealt with enhancing bilateral ties and cooperation including making their shared border more open. Sudan and Eritrea agreed to abolish entry visa requirements, opening their common borders for free movement of both nationals.[7] In 2011, Eritrea and Sudan cooperated in the building of the Kassala-Al Lafa Highway linking the two countries.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Shinn, David H. (2015). "Ethiopia and Eritrea" (PDF). In Berry, LaVerle (ed.). Sudan: a country study (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 280–282. ISBN 978-0-8444-0750-0. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Though published in 2015, this work covers events in the whole of Sudan (including present-day South Sudan) until the 2011 secession of South Sudan.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  2. ^ "Eritrea-Sudan relations plummet". London: BBC. 2004-01-15. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
  3. ^ "Sudan, Eritrea resume severed diplomatic relations". Archived from the original on 2007-01-16. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
  4. ^ "Sudan demands Eritrean mediation with eastern Sudan rebels". Sudan Tribune. 2006-04-18. Archived from the original on 2006-05-19. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
  5. ^ "Turabi terms USA "world's ignoramuses", fears Sudan's partition". Sudan Tribune. 2005-11-04. Archived from the original on 2006-07-18. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
  6. ^ Eritrea, Chad accused of aiding Sudan rebels Archived 2012-06-29 at archive.today, afrol News, September 7. Retrieved 2009-03-15
  7. ^ "Eritrean, Sudanese leaders hold talks in Asmara - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". www.sudantribune.com. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Sudan-Eritrea road to boost ties: Emir". Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
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