Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi (pictured centre) jetted in the country on Thursday, February 25, for a state visit where she met the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring & Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) for assessment on the peace deal progress.

The minister met the chair of the commission, Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, who led the commission in the high profile meeting.

‘‘Very cordial meeting held this afternoon with H.E. Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan, and chair of IGAD Council of Ministers,’’ RJMEC tweeted on  Thursday evening.

 ‘‘The RJMEC Chair had the opportunity to comprehensively brief the new Sudanese FM on progress and obstacles in the implementation of the R-ARCSS.’’

Dr Al-Mahdi found her way to the Cabinet of the Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok on February 9, 2021, when she was picked to head the foreign affairs ministry.

She came into office at a time that Khartoum has lots of diplomatic engagements that need robust input from the foreign affairs ministry. For instance, the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam poses a threat to Sudanese water sources. Apart from this is another simmering border dispute with Ethiopia which risks blowing up if not properly managed.