The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the elevation of its diplomatic representation level in Syria.

In a statement issued by the ministry today, Sunday, November 10, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yousef discussed with his Syrian counterpart, Bassam Sabbagh, during their meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.

The two ministers agreed to raise the diplomatic representation level, hold a meeting for the political consultation committee between the two countries, and exchange visits, in a way that “contributes to developing relations between the two countries.”

The meeting between the two ministers came on the sidelines of their participation in the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers for the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh.

The Syrian regime is currently represented in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, by Bisher al-Shaar, who serves as the chargé d’affaires and stands in for the ambassador, and is considered the head of the diplomatic mission.

Since 2018, relations between Sudan and the Syrian regime have seen significant development, particularly following the visit of ousted Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, which was classified as the first visit by an Arab state leader to meet with Syrian regime president Bashar al-Assad after years of international isolation.

Prior to Bashir’s visit and since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, Khartoum maintained its position of neutrality in the Syrian conflict and expressed its desire to resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue, without directly announcing its support for Bashar al-Assad.

Following the earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey in February 2023, the political relationship between the two parties developed, with Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan expressing his country’s intent to strengthen relations with the regime and continue providing humanitarian assistance after the earthquake. This came during a meeting between al-Burhan and the Syrian charge d’affaires in Khartoum, Bisher al-Shaar.

Days after the earthquake, the Sudanese Army announced the dispatch of a humanitarian aid plane to Syria, containing “shelter materials and food prepared by the Armed Forces Supply Authority and the Defense Industries System.”

Just hours ago, the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers for the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh began with the participation of Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh.

In May 2023, Syrian regime president Bashar al-Assad attended the Arab summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the first time since the Syrian revolution began in March 2011.

Prior to al-Assad’s attendance at the Arab summit, there were diplomatic movements and Arab initiatives aimed at rapprochement with al-Assad in exchange for progress on several files, primarily drug trafficking and the return of refugees.