Al-Burhan: Sudan keen to maintain close ties with World Food Programme

Sudan’s transitional Sovereign Council chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said on Tuesday that his country is keen to maintain close relations with the World Food Programme (WFP).

The remarks came during a meeting with WFP deputy executive director Carl Skau, attended by Sudan’s undersecretary of foreign affairs, Mo’awia Khalid, according to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA).

Khalid said that al-Burhan stressed the need for the WFP to respect Sudan’s national sovereignty and security requirements in its operations, so the programme can continue to be a reliable partner in humanitarian work.

Skau described the meeting as “honest and constructive.” He said they reviewed the partnership between the WFP and the Sudanese government in delivering humanitarian assistance.

He also reaffirmed the WFP’s commitment to continue helping the people of Sudan, adding that the programme delivers aid to around five million Sudanese each month.

“We are determined to continue this work and to reach the hardest-to-access areas,” he said.

The agency noted that WFP operations recently reached Kadugli city in South Kordofan state.

On 28 October, Sudan had told WFP country office director Laurent Bukera and operations director Samantha Chattaraj that they were “no longer welcome” and must leave within 72 hours.

At the time, Khartoum did not explain the reasons for the decision but stressed that it would not affect ongoing cooperation with the WFP.