23 January 2019•Update: 24 January 2019
KHARTOUM
Qatar has voiced its continued support for crisis-hit Sudan, Sudanese Foreign Minister Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed said Wednesday.
Ahmed made the remarks at a press conference convened at Khartoum’s international airport following the return of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir from a two-day visit to Doha.
Ahmed told reporters that, while in Qatar, al-Bashir had discussed his country’s ongoing economic crisis -- along with its suspected causes -- with Qatari officials.
“Officials in Qatar assured President al-Bashir of their unwavering support for Sudan,” Ahmed said.
On Wednesday, al-Bashir wrapped up a two-day state visit to Doha during which he held talks with Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and other top Qatari officials.
It was al-Bashir’s first trip abroad since countrywide demonstrations erupted one month ago against his government’s seeming inability to remedy Sudan’s chronic economic woes.
According to government officials, more than 20 people have been killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces since the protests began in mid-December.
Opposition groups, however, put the death toll at closer to 40.
In power since 1989, al-Bashir has pledged to carry out urgent economic reforms amid ongoing calls by the opposition to continue demonstrating.
A nation of 40 million, Sudan has struggled to recover from the loss of some three quarters of its oil output -- its main source of foreign currency -- since the secession of South Sudan in 2011.
