US Secretary of State Pompeo arrives in Sudan for historic visit

Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has arrived in Sudan in the first visit by a senior US official to the country since last year's overthrow of Omar al-Bashir.

He arrived on a non-stop flight from Israel, according to media reports. The arrival from Israel is significant as Sudan has been seen in recent times to be working to normalise ties with Israel.

Mr Pompeo had earlier tweeted: "Happy to announce that we are on the FIRST official NONSTOP flight from Israel to Sudan!"

The US State Department said on its website that while in Sudan, "the Secretary will meet with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Sovereign Council Chair General Abdel Fattah el-Burhan to discuss continued U.S. support for the civilian-led transitional government and express support for deepening the Sudan-Israel relationship".

Sudan has been working for many years to improve relations with the US and be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

-0- PANA MA 25Aug2020