By STEPHEN KAPAMBWE –

SUDAN’S recent 60th Independence Anniversary commemoration was an opportune time for Zambia to recognise the significant progress which the north-east African country has made in restoring micro-economic stability and development.
The two countries share a rich history stretching from pre-colonial days to current times when they are part of the global economy and depend on each other for economic and social development.
Officially known as the Republic of the Sudan, the north-east African country is the third largest in Africa.
Sudan was home to numerous ancient civilisations, such as the Kingdom of Kush, Kerma, Nobatia, Alodia, Makuria, Meroë and others, most of which flourished along the Nile.
During the pre-dynastic period Nubia and Nagadan Upper Egypt were identical, simultaneously evolved systems of pharaonic kingship by 3300 BC.
By virtue of its proximity to Egypt, Sudan participated in the wider history of the Near East inasmuch as it was Christianised by the 6th Century, and Islamised in the 15th.
As a result of Christianisation, the Old Nubian language stands as the oldest recorded Nilo-Saharan language (earliest records dating to the 9th Century).
Sudan was the largest country in Africa and the Arab world until 2011 when South Sudan separated into an independent country, following an independence referendum.
Today, Sudan is the third largest country in Africa (after Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and also the third largest country in the Arab world (after Algeria and Saudi Arabia).
In this era of globalisation when countries have become part of a larger community called a global village, Sudan is a member of the United Nations (UN).
It also holds membership in the African Union (AU), the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement, and serves as an observer in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Like Zambia which is home to many tourist attractions, among them one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Sudan boasts of tourist attractions like museums and rivers in the capital Khartoum, scuba diving in the Port of Sudan, the Kassala Mountains, The famous Dinder National Park, camels, markets and historical relics of Ordurman, the scenic Tuti Island, to mention but a few.
Therefore, it was with pride that Zambia recently decided to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sudan as it marked its 60th Independence Anniversary.
The celebrations were held at Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka where Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Danny Chingimbu said Zambia recognised the significant progress Sudan has made in restoring micro-economic stability, economic growth and development.
He said this was despite the many challenges that Sudan faced.
Mr Chingimbu said the progress made by Sudan demonstrated the Sudanese government’s commitment towards achieving sustainable development in that country.
He expressed Zambia’s commitment to work with the Sudanese government to strengthen and consolidate economic cooperation for the mutual benefits of both countries.
He noted that Zambia and Sudan shared common positions across regional and international fora, like the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the AU, the None-Aligned Movement and the UN.
He said the two countries’ partnership to regional and international organisations provided an important platform for interaction and support on issues of mutual concern, such as peace and security, terrorism, climate change, HIV/AIDS and poverty.
“In addition, our membership to these organisations also creates a platform where we can advance our socio-economic agendas as well as consolidate our fraternal relations,” Mr Chingimbu said.
He called on the two countries to take bold and transformative steps that were urgently needed to ensure peace and inclusive societies where people enjoy prosperity and fulfil their lives.
Zambia also commended Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir and his government for efforts and commitment to national peace and reconciliation which were fundamental to the country’s prosperous future.
Zambia has since undertaken to continue supporting all peace and development efforts in and around Sudan under the auspices of the AU and the ICGLR.
Mr Chingimbu reiterated Zambia’s commitment to strengthen existing bilateral relations with Sudan for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Sudanese Charge d’Affaires Abadi Nureldin Abdelrhman said relations between Zambia and Sudan were historic and had continued to thrive.
He said the opening of the Sudanese embassy in Zambia in 1990 helped advance diplomatic relations between the two nations, both of which are members of the AU.
He said the embassy helped to set up a common ground between the two countries.
He said the two countries share views on many regional and global issues.
He said the Sudanese government had helped provide scholarships that offer a window of opportunity to Zambian students, and that the country also helped establish railway lines in Zambia which have been of major economic benefit.
He further said Sudan initiated the African Political Parties Council which is currently presided over by Zambia.
The envoy paid tribute to Zambia for contributing to international efforts to restore peace by sending troops to the region of Dafur in 2009.
According to the UN, the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) was a joint AU and UN peacekeeping mission formally approved by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769 on July 31, 2007, to restore stability to the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan while peace talks on a final settlement were underway.
Its initial 12-month mandate had to be extended. Its force of about 26,000 personnel began to deploy to the region in October 2007. The 9,000-strong African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), which was previously responsible for peacekeeping, had completely merged into this new force by December 31, 2007.
The mandate was for a force of up to 19,555 military personnel and 3,772 police, along with a further police units comprising up to 140 personnel each.
The peacekeepers, who included Zambian personnel, were allowed to use force to protect civilians and humanitarian operations.
UNAMID became the first joint UN/AU force and the largest peacekeeping mission.
Mr Abdelrhman said the solid ties between Zambia and Sudan have over the years been demonstrated by the visit of Zambia’s justice minister to Sudan in 2013 and the visit to Zambia by the Sudanese president.
He said efforts made by the two countries to strengthen relations were fruitful as was reflected in the signing of an agreement between the official news agencies and an agreement for consultation and co-operation between the ministries of foreign affairs.
Having both been colonised and having known the human cost of freedom,
Zambia and Sudan should now put their efforts in tapping into their vast resources to realise shared dreams that will benefit the people of the two countries who have since learned to co-exist.