KHARTOUM
By Ayman Elias Ibrahim
Washington's new special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, was expected to arrive in Khartoum this week on his first visit since his appointment.
Booth will meet with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti and a number of senior government officials, members of civil society, and representatives of international and regional organizations.
"During his visit, Ambassador Booth will express the United States’ deep concern at the lack of progress made by Sudan and South Sudan in fully implementing the September 2012 accords brokered by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP)," said a statement issued by the US Embassy late Friday.
"Booth will underscore the United States' commitment to the goal of two viable states at peace internally, with one another, and with their neighbors," it added.
The statement reiterated America's continued support to the African Union's efforts.
It added that Washington will continue to work with other international partners to promote sustainable peace between Sudan and South Sudan.
The statement noted that issues of human rights, the critical need for humanitarian access to conflict areas as well as the importance of working for inclusive and representative governance will also be high on the envoy's agenda.
Booth, a former ambassador who served in different parts of the African continent, was named special envoy to Khartoum and Juba late last month.
At the time the White House said the veteran diplomat "has extensive experience promoting peace and prosperity across the African continent."
Minister Karti, for his part, has pledged to facilitate the mission of the new American envoy.
"If the new US envoy has a clear roadmap for relations between Khartoum and Washington, including helping to resolve the remaining files, we welcome this role but if he goes to other issues we will certainly move away from him," he told Sudan's state radio earlier this week.
Karti said they have been repeatedly promised by US Secretary of State John Kerry that the top US diplomat himself and his new envoy will focus on Sudan-US relations.
Sudan has been on the US blacklist of states sponsoring terrorism since 1993 on allegations of harboring Islamist militants.
Sudan has been also subjected to comprehensive economic sanctions since 1997 over the terrorism charges as well as human right abuses.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
