Sudan is known for its agricultural products, including beans, soybeans, rice, and other produces, as well as beef produced from its cattle farms.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Sudanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Dr. Yasser Mohamed Ali Mohamed, assured that his country is safe for business, although he did not deny the ongoing conflict in this African country.

"Sudan's territory is vast. Our water resources are abundant, and our agricultural land is also extensive. Sudan is known for its agricultural products, including beans, soybeans, rice, and other produces, as well as beef produced from its cattle farms," ​​the Sudanese ambassador told a press briefing at his official residence here on Wednesday evening (Feb. 4).

Indonesia, he noted, is one of the world's largest importers of soybeans and possesses the best experience and expertise in agriculture.

"These are all opportunities available for building a strategic partnership between Indonesia and Sudan in the future," the Sudanese ambassador added.

On the occasion, Ambassador Yasser Mohamed outlined the latest situation in Sudan, saying, "the situation in western, eastern, and central Sudan is peaceful. Conflicts do occur in some areas, but they are far apart because Sudan is vast, just like Indonesia".

Dr. Yasser Mohamed believes that the strategic partnership between the two countries, with Sudan directly bordering the Red Sea to the east, can help Indonesia achieve goals and targets of its economic growth.

"Indonesia's halal economic sector is enormous. Meanwhile, Sudan's abundant resources provide access to African countries. Sudan is a gateway to reaching the entire African region," he explained.

The ambassador hopes that the Indonesian mass media can help raise public awareness about Sudan, which shares a rich history with Indonesia.

"The world's major media outlets are now controlled by Israel and Western powers, who always report that Sudan is full of war and famine. This is not the case. Sudan has abundant resources," Dr. Yasser Mohamed pointed out.

He also expounded that one of the historical fragments connecting the African country and Indonesia in Southeast Asia is a prominent figure named Sheikh Ahmad Surkati (1875-1943), who was born in Udfu, Dongola, Sudan.

In October 1911, Sheikh Ahmad Surkati arrived in Batavia to fulfill an invitation from the Jamiat Kheir in Batavia (specifically in Pekojan, Jakarta), which invited teachers from the Hijaz region to teach Islam, particularly the Quran.

"Sheikh Ahmad Surkati also supported the Indonesian people's struggle against Dutch colonialism," the Sudanese Ambassador noted, adding that the African Islamic figure died and was buried in Indonesia, making him Sudan's first ambassador to Indonesia.

A number of media outlets reported that the conflict in Sudan broke out on April 15, 2023, with clashes in the capital, Khartoum, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The conflict erupted due to a power struggle between SAF leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) over military restructuring and the transition to civilian rule.

Reporting by Indonesia Window