Egypt, Sudan to form joint task force to oversee future cooperation with an eye for boosting ties: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir agreed on Thursday to form a joint ministerial task force that would draw up a vision for future cooperation between Cairo and Khartoum, with a clear timeline and a detailed strategy for clearing any existing obstacles, which will likely include lifting the ban on Egyptian agricultural goods, according to an Ittihadiya statement. The group would also oversee the execution of plans such as the USD 60-70 mn power interconnection project and the construction of roads and railway lines to link both countries, which talks for are currently ongoing, according to El Sisi.

Regional developments were also among the points of discussion, with El Sisi and Al Bashir both reaffirming their commitment to maintaining the others’ national security and interests, according to the statement, which makes no mention of talks related to the disagreements over the disputed border areas of Halayeb and Shalatin or the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). El Sisi, however, did thank Sudan for the role it has played in “settling regional disputes.” You can view the full text of Sisi’s speech in Khartoum here.  Sudan Tribune and the Sudan News Agency both have coverage.