France FM arrives in Sudan to meet new leaders

CAIRO — France’s foreign minister has arrived in Sudan to meet with the African country’s new leaders, weeks after the formation of the first civilian-led government since the military ousted former President Omar al-Bashir in April.

Sudan’s state-run news agency said Jean-Yves Le Drian landed in the capital, Khartoum, on Monday. He’s the second top western diplomat to visit Sudan this month, following Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

SUNA says Le Drian will meet with Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the head of the newly-appointed Sovereign Council, as well as Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Foreign Minister Assma Abdalla.

The visit comes two weeks after the formation of a power-sharing government by the pro-democracy movement and the generals who overthrew of al-Bashir after months of mass protests against his rule.

The Associated Press