Sudanese foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, on Sunday cancelled a trip to Egypt as President Omar al-Bashir’s declarations last week triggered a major diplomatic row between the two countries.
“We told our brothers in Egypt about the postponement of the visit due to internal issues and it would take place later,” Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said in a statement on Sunday ahead of the May 31 trip.
The trip to the North African nation was meant to ease tensions between the neighboring states.
“The purpose of the visit was to convene meetings of the joint Sudanese-Egyptian political consultations committee and its agenda has been agreed already,” the statement said.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Tuesday accused Egypt of arming rebel groups in the troubled Darfur region.
Speaking to top army brass, Bashir said Sudanese forces have captured Egyptian weapons during clashes with rebels in the East Darfur state.
Tensions first emerged in mid-March after the Sudanese authorities banned the import of certain Egyptian products.
Shortly afterward, Sudan’s Defence minister accused Egypt’s military of “provoking” the Sudanese army in the disputed Halaib Triangle area, located on the border between the two countries.