The head of the military junta in Sudan, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, continued his West African diplomatic tour with an official visit to Guinea-Bissau, following a strategic stop in Mali.
After visiting Bamako, Mali, where he held talks with General Assimi Goïta, Sudan’s transitional leader arrived in Guinea-Bissau on Sunday.
Welcomed at the presidential palace in Bissau by President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, al-Burhan was given full military honours.
The two leaders focused their talks on Sudan’s internal situation and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The talks also emphasised “solutions to Sudan’s challenges and the importance of solidarity among nations.”
Burhan’s trip to Bissau followed a stopover in Bamako, where the Sudanese leader met with Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goïta.
Their talks at the Koulouba Palace revolved around regional security, economic development, and cultural promotion.
“We are two brotherly nations living in turbulent regions,” al-Burhan remarked in Bamako, highlighting the importance of exploring “paths of cooperation” between nations sharing “a common vision for Africa.”
This diplomatic tour comes at a critical time as Sudan grapples with a severe internal crisis that erupted in April 2023, marked by conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
For Mali, which is set to leave ECOWAS on January 29, the talks are part of efforts to strengthen the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
AC/lb/as/APA