Mariam al-Mahdi, Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, returned to Khartoum after a four-day official visit to Bahrain, where she met Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and a number of other senior Bahraini officials.
The Sudanese-Bahraini meetings, according to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA), “emphasized the strong and deeply entrenched links uniting the two countries.” In response to an official invitation from her Bahraini colleague, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the foreign minister traveled to Manama on Monday. In the evening, she was received by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Al Sakhir Palace in Manama. In this context, the King praised the Sudanese Embassy’s official opening in Bahrain and reaffirmed Bahrain’s support for Sudan’s efforts to strengthen peace, stability, and prosperity.
In addition, al-Mahdi met with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who was in Manama on Tuesday. Al-Mahdi addressed the WHO chief on the health situation in Sudan, focusing on the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the Red Sea state. She asked the United Nations to supply Sudan with electronic programs that would aid the health ministry in keeping track of the country’s advancements.
The following day, she spoke with Bahrain’s Crown Prince, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Finance, primarily about the COVID-19 pandemic. The Crown Prince stated his country’s willingness to assist Sudan in combatting COVID-19 by donating ten oxygen generators to the Sudanese medical sector.
Al-Mahdi highlighted Bahrain’s support for Arab women’s empowerment during her meeting with Fawziya Zainal, Speaker of the Bahraini House of Representatives, on Wednesday. She emphasized the importance of strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and reciprocal visits to share experiences. Also, she stated that the current situation in Sudan allows for women to have a full voice in the interim Legislative Council, which is still under formation.
