March 9, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese State Minister of Interior, Juma Abbas, today at his office discussed the situation of Ethiopian refugees in Sudan with Ethiopian Ambassador to Sudan, Ali Suleiman Abdo.

Abbas confirmed the stability of the situation of Ethiopian nationals in the country. He further reiterated the strength of relations between the two countries and two peoples. He described bilateral ties as witnessing breakthrough as result of joint efforts to achieve common interests between the two peoples.

The Sudanese minister said that the regularisation of foreigners in Sudan is conducted in accordance with legal frameworks and the bilateral accords.

While the Ethiopian envoy promised to alert the refugees on importance to observe the necessary procedures of immigration, emphasizing the strength of the relations between the two peoples

Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT), earlier in January of this year expressed concern over the situation of Ethiopian refugees in the country.

The right group accused the Sudanese authorities of arresting Ethiopians who had held refugee status in the country since 2004.

According to SOAT, they have since been detained by the Ethiopian authorities and held in an unknown location. All of those arrested are Muslims belonging to the Oromo ethnic group.

(ST)