Darfur Peace and Development

August 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — US Congressman, Keith Ellison is expected in the Sudanese capital next Tuesday for talks with the Sudanese officials on humanitarian situation in Darfur.

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison

Ellison who is a member of the US House Committee of Foreign Affairs , had been arrested last April in a protest in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington against the expulsion of 13 aid groups from Sudan following the ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir.

The Minnesota Congressman is a first Muslim member of the US House, he is also a Democrat.

Ambassador Nasr Eddin Wali the head of American Department at the foreign affairs ministry said the visit aims to assess the situation in Darfur on the ground and discuss ways of boosting cooperation between the Sudan and the United States.

The Congressman who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus will meet Presidential adviser Gazi Salah Eddin who is in charge with US relations and Darfur files.

He will pay a visit to North Darfur state where he will meet the governor in El-Fasher and UNAMID officials as well as internally displaced persons.

Ellison will also visit Juba for talks with southern Sudanese officials on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The visit comes amid high expectations in Khartoum on the lift of economic sanctions and Sudan’s removal from terrorism list.

(ST)