Sudan’s Foreign Ministry has tried to dampen speculation about a peace treaty with Israel after a spokesman had earlier suggested his country was pursuing it.
Haydar Badawi al-Sadiq, the ministry’s spokesman, told Sky News Arabia on Monday that Sudan “aspires towards a peace agreement”.
But the following day the ministry released a statement to say that it reacted to his remarks with “astonishment”.
The statement confirmed that “the issue of relations with Israel was not discussed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in any way, and Ambassador Haydar Badawi was not assigned to make any statements in this regard”.
Mr al-Sadiq, speaking four days after the United Arab Emirates had become the third Arab country to agree a peace deal with Israel, said there was “no reason” for enmity to continue. “We do not deny the communication between the two countries.”
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented, “Israel, Sudan and the region will all benefit from a peace deal and will be able to build a better future together for all nations of the region.”
Sudan has never had diplomatic relations with Israel.
But the possibility began to emerge after Mr Netanyahu met Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the Sudanese general in charge of the transitional administration, in Uganda six months ago.
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.