The President of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, discussed with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki the security and border situation and the developments on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Burhan arrived in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, for a one-day visit accompanied by a high-ranking security and military delegation.
The delegation accompanying Burhan and the timing of the visit indicate its security nature and is linked to the ongoing tensions in eastern Sudan, in the wake of the recent tribal conflicts in Kassala after the appointment of the civilian governor.
Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Burhan and Afwerki discussed bilateral and regional relations, in the wake of tension on the border.
Burhan is expected to have discussed with Afwerki the mechanisms for ending the issue in eastern Sudan, especially that Asmara faces a strong opposition which benefits from the instability in eastern Sudan.
President Afwerki visited Sudan last June for two days, after Burhan visited Eritrea in June 2019. The exchanged visits came after the two countries cut their diplomatic relations and closed the border during the rule of ousted President Omar al-Bashir.
Relations between the two countries witnessed severe tensions in February 2018, after the former government of al-Bashir closed the border between the two countries, sending large military reinforcements.
He claimed the Eritrean government had massed large forces near its borders with Sudan, sheltered the opposition, and encouraged the smuggling of goods from Sudan.
Analysts indicate that members of the isolated Islamist regime are collaborating in eastern Sudan with the Ethiopian extremist organizations to increase tensions on the border.
The Sudanese transitional authority aims to restore security and peace in the country.
After achieving a breakthrough by signing the peace agreement with armed movements in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile, the authority seeks to establish security and stability in the eastern region, which has witnessed several ethnic conflicts.
