Sudan Affirms Strategic Partnership with AfDB; Urges Support for Agricultural Season

Khartoum – Sudanhorizon

Sudanese Minister of Finance, Dr. Gibril Ibrahim, has underscored the depth of the strategic partnership between Sudan and the African Development Bank (AfDB) regarding development projects in the country.

This came during a meeting held on Thursday with a delegation from the African Development Bank, the UNHCR Regional Director for East Africa, and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Denise Brown. The discussion focused on providing support for the winter agricultural season.

The Minister of Finance explained that the provision of agricultural inputs for the winter season is a critical matter, requiring urgent intervention and the concerted efforts of both local and international partners to ensure the season proceeds on time. He noted his ministry’s commitment to coordinating with international organizations and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He further commended the efforts of the African Development Bank, affirming Sudan’s keenness to remove all obstacles and strengthen mutual cooperation.

For his part, Alexander Mtebe, head of the delegation and the African Development Bank’s Regional Director for East Africa, stated that the delegation conducted field visits to areas within Khartoum and White Nile states. During these visits, they met with the Governor of White Nile State and various citizens in Khartoum State, and also toured several hospitals within the health sector. He affirmed that the delegation assessed humanitarian needs requiring urgent intervention. The visit included the Sudanese-South Sudanese border to examine the situation of refugees, highlighting the pressing need for humanitarian services, medical equipment, laboratory facilities, and water services. He noted that one of the primary challenges is energy provision, emphasizing the importance of adopting solar energy solutions.

Furthermore, Mamadou Diop, a representative of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), pointed out that the delegation’s visit to the border revealed shared issues and opportunities between Sudan and South Sudan, noting the social and service-related interdependencies along the border. The delegation proposed establishing a regional partnership—framed within a joint development initiative that includes South Sudan—to strengthen interventions and services across the border.

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