President Mubarak went south yesterday, signalling that relations with Sudan have improved dramatically since a decade ago, writes Mahmoud Murad In a groundbreaking trip to Sudan yesterday, President Hosni Mubarak met with his Sudanese counterpart Omar Hassan Al-Bashir in Khartoum signifying that relations between the two Arab and African neighbours were clearly on the mend. Egypt is keen to demonstrate its support of the Sudanese peace process. Egyptian sources said the visit was in response to an invitation from Al-Bashir and "is a sign of Egypt's solidarity with Sudan". Mubarak's brief visit to Sudan was his first in 14 years. It also marked his first trip to an African state -- other than the North African countries -- since an attempt was made on his life in Addis Ababa while attending an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit in 1995. In fact, it was the assassination attempt which caused relations between Egypt and Sudan to hit rock bottom since it is believed that several of the would-be assassins affiliated to the Egyptian Al-Gama'a Al-Islamiya took refuge in Sudan. From the early 1990s, relations between the two Nile Valley states deteriorated sharply. Egyptian- Sudanese relations became particularly strained after it was revealed that many members of Egyptian militant Islamist groups were being trained in terrorist camps in Sudan. Anti-Egyptian rhetoric by then Sudanese Speaker of Parliament Hassan Al-Turabi escalated in the late 1990s, poisoning relations between the neighbours. A few years ago, Al-Bashir began to make overtures towards Egypt to improve relations, beginning with the expulsion of Al-Turabi from his post as speaker, pushing Al-Turabi -- at the time the country's top Islamist ideologue -- into political oblivion. Since then, Cairo re-engaged with Khartoum and even co- sponsored with Libya a peace initiative to reconcile the government and southern-based armed opposition group Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) under the leadership of John Garang. By early April, Cairo upgraded contacts with the various parties to the Sudanese peace process, while Mubarak received both Al-Bashir and Garang to discuss how to move ahead and achieve peace. Egyptian officials have also intensified contacts with the various Sudanese protagonists over the past few weeks to bring closer the Sudanese government and the SPLA. Hours before heading to Khartoum on the sudden visit, Mubarak said Sudan was "vital" to Egypt's interests, "especially at this important stage". In a speech celebrating Labour Day, Mubarak reiterated Egypt's position that Sudan must remain united, stable and prosperous. Cairo does not want to see a splintered neighbour to its south since this would undermine its own national and strategic interests. Mubarak noted yesterday that Egypt "will continue its efforts until Sudan and its people achieve peace, security and stability". Accompanied on the trip by his foreign and information ministers, Mubarak discussed with Al- Bashir peace efforts in Sudan, the situation in southern Sudan, developments on the Arab arena -- including Iraq and the Palestinian situation, as well as bilateral Egyptian-Sudanese relations. At the beginning of the meeting which took place in the Friendship Hall along the banks of the Nile in Sudan, Al-Bashir described Mubarak's visit as "historic", saying it was certain to boost bilateral relations. "We are bound by historic ties that connect one people, one history and one future." Sudan's president added the visit "indicates to the Sudanese people that the Egyptian people want to cooperate with them". Al-Bashir also said that Khartoum "greatly values Egypt's position of wanting Sudan to be secure and at peace, as well as the [increase in] cooperation that has taken place recently between the two countries". In response, Mubarak described the two countries as "one body", adding that there were no obstacles hampering relations between the neighbours. Egyptian Ambassador to Khartoum Mohamed Assem Ibrahim noted recently that relations between the two countries "are now at a high point following a frightening decline a decade ago". Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustapha Osman Ismail said the visit was a "continuation" of the ongoing dialogue between the two leaders, adding that it "reconfirms Egypt's commitment to stability and development in Sudan". In reference to the most recent insurgency in the western Sudanese province of Darfur and the instability that ongoing fighting poses for his country, Ismail said security has been re-established in the province and "will not affect peace talks between the government and the SPLA". Al-Bashir said despite "security breaches, the situation in Sudan is stable". In their discussions, both leaders agreed to take further steps to implement the measures they approved during Al-Bashir's visit to Cairo. In July, the Supreme Joint Committee will meet to cement ties and cooperation. Sudanese Agriculture Minister Majdoub Khalifa, the official assigned to the joint ministerial committee to follow up bilateral relations, said Mubarak's visit will enhance economic and commercial cooperation and that an Egyptian ministerial delegation would visit Khartoum within days to sign cooperation agreements. Further meetings are also expected between businessmen from both countries.
