Sudan said on Saturday it has invited back a European Commission envoy who was expelled a day earlier for “interfering” in domestic affairs, following an apology.
“Sudan has accepted the apology of Louis Michel, the European development commissioner, to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir over the actions of the European Commission envoy,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadek said.
“After accepting the apology, Sudan has allowed the envoy to continue his work in Khartoum,” Sadek said.
The envoy, Kent Degerfelt of Sweden, was ordered out along with Canada’s charge d’affaires Nuala Lawlor after the government accused them of having unacceptable contacts with opposition leaders.
The Foreign Ministry refused to comment on Lawlor’s status.
Earlier, the European Commission said direct contact between Michel and Bashir reversed the decision in relation to Degerfelt.
In an interview with French radio, Michel said after talks with Bashir, that Degerfelt had been expelled for a mistake in protocol.
The EU envoy had failed to go through the Presidency or the Foreign Ministry before expressing concerns over the human rights situation in Sudan, Michel explained.
The Commission said it was satisfied with the “positive outcome” of the matter, and considered the change-of-mind to be “encouraging” for EU-Sudanese relations.
On Thursday, Sadek announced that Sudan had declared Degerfelt and Lawlor persona non grata “because they interfered in Sudanese affairs”.
Minister of State Ali Karti said the two diplomats had been holding what the government regarded as unacceptable contacts with opposition leaders. — AFP