Date: Friday, 04 September 2026
Burhan is scheduled to hold talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki on ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, in addition to a number of regional and international issues of common interest.
The visit comes within the framework of the periodic consultations that bring together Sudan and Eritrea, which has become an important channel for coordination between the two countries regarding political and security developments in the region, especially in light of the continuation of the Sudanese war and its repercussions on neighboring countries.
The talks are expected to address developments in Sudan, efforts to achieve stability, as well as regional security issues and relations between the countries of the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
Sudanese-Eritrean relations are of particular importance due to the geographical location of the two countries and the intertwining of security and economic interests between them, as well as their shared borders and their extensions on the Red Sea coast.
In recent years, Burhan has intensified his visits and contacts with the Eritrean leadership, while Asmara has affirmed on previous occasions its support for the unity and stability of Sudan and its rejection of foreign interference in its affairs.
Previous meetings between Burhan and Afwerki had addressed strengthening political, security and economic cooperation, as well as developments in the Sudanese war and ways to support stability in the region.
Burhan's visit to Asmara comes as the war in Sudan continues to pose the biggest challenge to the Sudanese state and the surrounding region.
Since the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, Sudan has entered a widespread political, security and humanitarian crisis, which has caused large numbers of casualties and the displacement of millions of people inside and outside the country.
Neighboring countries, including Eritrea, have become directly concerned with the repercussions of the war, whether in terms of refugee movement, border security, or stability in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa region.
In this context, the consultations between Burhan and Afwerki acquire additional importance, especially with the continuation of regional and international efforts aimed at ending the conflict and reaching a political settlement.
Regional issues are also expected to be on the agenda in the talks between Burhan and Afwerki, foremost among them the security of the Red Sea and developments in the Horn of Africa region.
The Red Sea is a strategic corridor for international trade, and any security disturbances in the region could affect Sudan, Eritrea, and neighboring countries, making coordination between Khartoum and Asmara an increasingly important issue.
Developments in the Horn of Africa, relations between regional powers, and the future of security on the Red Sea coast are among the issues that could form part of the consultations between the two sides.
Burhan’s visit to Asmara also carries a message about the continuation of political coordination between Sudan and Eritrea, at a time when Khartoum is seeking to strengthen its relations with neighboring countries and regional states that support Sudan’s stability and unity.
For Asmara, continued communication with the Sudanese leadership reflects its interest in developments within Sudan and their direct implications for its security and regional interests.
Previous meetings between the leadership of the two countries had emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation and coordination, and the two sides had also discussed on previous occasions developments in the Sudanese crisis and ways to support stability and peace.
Burhan’s visit to Eritrea comes in the context of ongoing regional moves by the head of the Sovereignty Council regarding the war in Sudan and the future of the country.
Through these contacts, Khartoum seeks to rally support for its positions on the unity and sovereignty of Sudan, as well as to explore ways to end the war and address its humanitarian and security repercussions.
Conversely, the issue of ending the fighting and launching a comprehensive political process remains one of the most prominent issues facing regional and international capitals, with continued concerns about the expansion of the conflict and its impact on neighboring countries.
The results of the meeting between Burhan and Afwerki are expected to reveal the nature of the files that were given priority during the consultations, and whether the talks will include new steps to enhance Sudanese-Eritrean coordination on the war and regional security.
