US. Envoy arrives in Sudan, engages in talks with officials

Upon his arrival in Portsudan Monday, US. Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello engaged into intensive meetings with senior state officials.

Sources said that the US envoy began his meetings with Foreign Minister Ali Yousuf, then engaged in a meeting with Sultan of Masalit and Vice-President of the Sovereignty Council (TSC) Malik Aggar, adding that the envoy will conclude his meetings with TSC President General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan.

For his part, Sultan of Dar Masalit Sa’ad Bahar-Eddin called on the US government not to impose political groups that speak in the name of Sudan and adopt the cause of Sudan, specifically naming the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) and their new front, Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), stressing that “Taqaddum” does not have a character that leads it to adopt the cause of Sudan, neither intellectually nor politically.

The Sultan told the American envoy that the Sudanese people are emotionally supportive of the armed forces (SAF) and the current Government.

The meeting touched on the Adre crossing and the shortcomings associated with its opening, saying, “We affirmed to him that the crossing has become a major security concern and threat through its exploitation to bringing weapons to the militia.” He added, “We talked about the massacres that occurred in the areas and villages of eastern Al-Gezira and the suffering of the displaced in various places,” in addition to discussion of the harsh treatment by the militia against civilians in safe villages.