Saudi Leadership Invites Sudanese PM to Visit the Kingdom

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok. File photo: AFP
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok. File photo: AFP
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Saudi Leadership Invites Sudanese PM to Visit the Kingdom

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok. File photo: AFP
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok. File photo: AFP

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok received on Monday an invitation from the Saudi leadership to visit the Kingdom during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Ali bin Hassan Jafar.

Hamdok and Jafar discussed ways of enhancing cooperation in the interest of both countries.

The Saudi Ambassador conveyed the leadership’s congratulations on the formation of the transitional government in Sudan. He also said the Sudanese prime minister promised to visit the Kingdom as soon as possible.

Hamdok affirmed his government's keenness to enhance ways of joint cooperation between Sudan and Saudi Arabia in the interest of both countries.

Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit begins a visit to Khartoum on Tuesday, and Hamdok is due to visit Cairo next week to meet senior officials, namely Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, according to Sudanese diplomatic sources in Cairo.

A Sudanese diplomatic source pointed out that Sudan’s PM will brief the President on the latest developments in his country after the formation of the government and the return of Sudan to the African Union. He will also discuss efforts to remove Sudan from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

The Arab League said Aboul Gheit’s visit to Khartoum was part of the support provided to Sudan, especially during the transitional period following the signing of the historic agreement between the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) and the Transitional Military Council (TMC).

The General Secretariat said in a statement the Sec-Gen will meet with the head of TMC, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Hamdok, and Foreign Minister Asmaa Abdullah.

The statement noted that Aboul Gheit will also discuss the role of the Arab League and mobilizing Arab support for transitional governance.

In related news, Hamdok is due to visit France before heading to New York to participate in the meetings of the UN General Assembly later this month.

Hamdok's visit comes as he sets his priorities which serve the interests of both countries, the diplomatic source told Asharq Al-Awsat.



WHO: Crew Member Suffered Serious Injury in Yemen Airport Strike

A man walks past a damaged building of Sanaa Airport, one day after Israeli airstrikes hit the airport, in Sanaa, Yemen, December 27, 2024. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
A man walks past a damaged building of Sanaa Airport, one day after Israeli airstrikes hit the airport, in Sanaa, Yemen, December 27, 2024. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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WHO: Crew Member Suffered Serious Injury in Yemen Airport Strike

A man walks past a damaged building of Sanaa Airport, one day after Israeli airstrikes hit the airport, in Sanaa, Yemen, December 27, 2024. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
A man walks past a damaged building of Sanaa Airport, one day after Israeli airstrikes hit the airport, in Sanaa, Yemen, December 27, 2024. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

The UN air crew member hurt in an airstrike on Yemen's main international airport on Thursday suffered serious injuries but is now recovering in hospital, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization said on Friday.

Israel said it struck multiple targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthi militias in Yemen, including Sanaa International Airport, and Houthi media said at least six people were killed.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was in the airport waiting to depart when the aerial bombardment took place and said that a member of his plane's crew was injured.

The injured man, who worked for the UN Humanitarian Air Service, had to be operated on, the WHO spokesperson said. He appeared to be recovering satisfactorily, the person added.

Tedros, who was in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained UN staff and to assess the humanitarian situation, would continue working in the country until his flight is able to depart, the WHO spokesperson said.

That could be on Friday, but no decision has yet been made, the WHO spokesperson said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Channel 14 that Israel was only at the beginning of its campaign against the Houthis. "We are just getting started with them," he said.