By TESFA-ALEM TEKLE
Eritrea’s President has dismissed as “false” to media reports alleging that the red sea nation is providing support to the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan.
President Isaias Afwerki said the deliberate disinformation disseminated by certain news outlets alleging, among others, that “Eritrea was cooperating with the United Arab Emirates to give sanctuary to the Rapid Support Forces” was utterly false and propagated as part and parcel of the usual smear campaigns against the country.
He made the remarks while receiving a message sent from Sudan’s Al-Burhan.
President Isaias Afwerki on Friday received at Denden House Ambassador Dafallah Alhaj, Special Envoy of Sudan’s General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council.
At the meeting, Ambassador Dafallah Alhaj delivered a message from General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to President Isaias Afwerki.
In their meeting, the two sides discussed the current situation in Sudan and on ways and means of extricating Sudan from the situation, and the role of neighboring countries and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
President Isaias Afwerki underlined the urgency and imperative of a ceasefire. President Isaias further stressed that the problem in Sudan can be solved by the Sudanese people themselves without complicating extraneous interference and the function of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to be a supportive and facilitating role.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Isa Ahmed Isa, Eritrea’s Ambassador to Sudan.
Ambassador Dafallah Alhaj returned home concluding a one-day working visit to Eritrea.
In recent interview with the state run Eritrean Television, President Isaias accused the two rival Sudanes Generals of contesting power during the Sudanese transitional period.
“It is also not the time to divide people along military and civilian lines” Isaias said adding “This is a transitional stage brought about by a popular uprising. Its roadmap is clear:
He said it is counterproductive to fight over ownership of the revolution at this point in time.
“This is not the time for settling scores or squabbling about power. This is a transitional phase and these divisive trends must not be contemplated. They may arise once the destination is reached” Isaias added.
This is the first time for the Eritrean President to hold meeting with Sudanese official since the conflict in Khartoum erupted in 15 April.
At the heart of the clashes are two men: Sudan’s military ruler and head of the army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (widely known as Hemedti), the country’s deputy and head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The conflict has so far claimed the lives of hundreds and displaced tens of thousands.
(The East African Daily)
