Addis Ababa, 9 November 2017: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, paid an official visit to the Republic of Sudan from 5 to 7 November. His delegation included the Commissioner for Social Affairs, Amira El-Fadil, and other African Union officials.

During the visit, the Chairperson met with President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, as well as with other Sudanese officials, including First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Saleh, Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, Minister of Interior Gen. Hamid Manan, and Chief Justice Haider Dafalla. He also interacted with other actors such as the Secretary-General of the Council of African Political Parties in Africa (CAPP), Nafie Ali Nafie. 
 
The Chairperson also met with the Director-General of the Arab Bank for Development in Africa (BADEA), Sidi Ould Tah.
 
The visit provided an opportunity to exchange views on issues of interest to the sub-region and Africa as a whole. During the meetings with the Sudanese officials, the important and stabilizing role Sudan can play in the region was discussed, and the need to address the conflicts affecting the continent in a united and coordinated manner was particularly emphasized. With regard to the ongoing processes within Sudan, the key role of the African Union, through its High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), was acknowledged. The Sudanese authorities welcomed the African Union continued involvement, in particular the facilitation role of the AUHIP. 
 
The issue of illegal migration was also discussed, specifically in the context of the African Union Horn of Africa Initiative on Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants. In this regard, it was agreed to quickly finalize and sign the Host Agreement for the establishment of the Khartoum Regional Operational Centre for sharing information on transnational organized crime. 
 
The Chairperson briefed his Sudanese interlocutors on the follow-up steps being taken by the Commission as part of the African Union institutional reform. Sudan reaffirmed its commitment to the reform process, as well as to the implementation of Agenda 2063, with particular emphasis on the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan (FTYIP) and its flagship projects, including the Continental Free Trade Area.
 
During the meeting with the Director-General of BADEA, the need for greater collaboration and coordination on issues of development on the continent was stressed. The BADEA Director-General expressed the commitment of his institution to support the implementation of the FTYIP flagship projects. 
 
The Chairperson of the Commission also met with the African Group of Ambassadors in Khartoum. He briefed them extensively on the African Union activities and exchanged views with them on the African Union institutional reform and Agenda 2063.
 

Finally, the Chairperson addressed the students of the International University of Africa, which honoured him with an award.