Hamdok Heads to Djibouti to Lay Foundation Stone of New ‘IGAD’ Headquarters

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok
Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok
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Hamdok Heads to Djibouti to Lay Foundation Stone of New ‘IGAD’ Headquarters

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok
Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok Kicked off Sunday an official two-day visit to Djibouti at the invitation of Djibouti’ President Ismail Omar Guelleh.

Hamdok is scheduled to discuss means of bilateral cooperation and inform the Djiboutian leadership of the developments in Sudan, according to the Sudanese Ambassador to Djibouti, Hamza al-Amin Baou.

He will also lay the foundation stone for the new headquarters of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and visit the facilities of “Djibouti Telecom” and ports in the city, Baou added.

Work of the ministerial committees between the two countries in the capital Khartoum will resume in the coming period, after it was halted for six years, he noted.

The eight-nation trading and security bloc chose Sudan in November to take over the chair position, replacing Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, Hamdok reiterated his government keenness to make peace negotiations with the armed movements successful.

Upon his meeting with South Sudan's presidential Adviser on security affairs Tut Gatluak in Khartoum on Saturday, Hamdok affirmed the transitional government's support for the ongoing peace process in Juba.

In press statements, Gatluak said parties to the negotiations have overcome many challenges, noting the positive results achieved during the current round of negotiations.

He stressed South Sudan’s keenness to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable peace that preserves stability in Sudan.

In this context, Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), the ruling political alliance of civilian and rebel coalitions of Sudanese groups, has pointed to the remarkable progress in the peace process, stressing that the peace issue is fundamental and is at the forefront of the revolution’s tasks.

It said in a press statement that the outstanding issues on the negotiating table can be overcome by the revolution, which has united the national conscience.

“We appreciate the efforts exerted by the negotiating delegations, the government and the armed movements.”



Iraq Reports 19 Congo Fever Deaths Already This Year

A general view of Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters file photo)
A general view of Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters file photo)
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Iraq Reports 19 Congo Fever Deaths Already This Year

A general view of Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters file photo)
A general view of Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters file photo)

Iraq said Thursday it has recorded 19 deaths from Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever already this year and urged farmers and abattoir workers to step up precautions when handling livestock.

A total of 123 cases have been recorded nationwide, health ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr said in a statement, adding that 36 of them were reported in the poor southern province of Dhi Qar, which is heavily dependent on livestock farming.

Congo fever is a viral disease which is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during or immediately after slaughter, according to the World Health Organization, AFP reported.

It has a fatality rate of between 10 and 40 percent, and most cases have been reported in the livestock industry.

A previous surge in infections in Iraq in 2022 saw at least 27 deaths, compared with just six cases for the two decades from 1989 to 2009.

The WHO attributed that flare-up to a rise in the tick population resulting from the failure to carry out pesticide spraying campaigns in 2020 and 2021.