KHARTOUM, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Wednesday said the European Union (EU) has not fulfilled its commitments to supporting Sudan's efforts to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking.
Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour has informed a visiting EU delegation of the failure.
"The foreign minister reiterated that the EU has not fulfilled its commitments made in Valletta Conference in Malta to support Sudan to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking via controlling its borders with neighboring countries," said Sudan's Foreign Ministry in a statement.
On Tuesday, a joint work session was held at the premises of Sudan's foreign ministry between Sudan and Africa's working group at the EU Commission which brings together representatives of member states, where the session was attended by EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, the EU Ambassador to Sudan, some ambassadors and representatives of the European embassies in Sudan.
According to the statement, the session reviewed issues of peace, dialogue in Sudan, refugees, combating human trafficking and illegal immigration and religious freedoms.
European countries had previously vowed to support Sudan in combating human trafficking after Khartoum asked for logistical air and maritime support to pursue the multi-national human smugglers.
Sudan has witnessed an increase in organized activities in the human trafficking and illegal immigration fields.
In October 2014, Sudan hosted an international conference on combating human trafficking and illegal immigration which included the participation of African and European countries.
Khartoum said it is maintaining high-level coordination with Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia from Africa as well as Italy, Spain, France and Britain to face the phenomenon.
Sudan is considered one of the thoroughfares for human trafficking and illegal immigration.
