Sudan's Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Awad Mohamed Ahmed Bin Aouf last Friday received in his office the visiting German State Secretary for Defense Ralf Brauksiepe to discuss regional security as well as human trafficking, terrorism and other issues.

Official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported that the meeting reviewed a number of issues including the overall security and political situation in the region as well as bilateral relations between the Sudan and Germany “and means of promoting them in the various domains.”

The Sudanese minister briefed the visiting German official on efforts exerted by the Sudan against terrorism, trading in firearms, drugs, human trafficking, and money laundering in the region.

“The minister. Gen Aouf, stressed Sudan's moral and humanitarian commitment to stand in face of these challenges despite the economic sanctions imposed on the country and which affect its economic and technical abilities,” Sudan's state news agency reported.

Germany's Ralf Brauksiepe is also reported to have visited the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, UNAMID.

File photo: Foreign Ministers Guido Westerwelle and Ali Karti in discussion in Berlin, 29 January 2013