Egypt, Sudan to sign media code of ethics draft

CAIRO – 26 July 2018: The National Media Authority, chaired by Hussein Zein Ali, responded on Thursday to a call to sign a media code of ethics draft with Sudan that serves the higher interests of the two brotherly countries.

The authority clarified that this code will help boost media cooperation between Egypt and Sudan and will enrich freedoms.

Ali decided to form a group of four-members to coordinate with the Sudanese side regarding the code of ethics.

In May, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry summoned the Egyptian ambassador in Khartoum to protest the Egyptian series "Abu Omar al-Masry", a well-known Ramdan series broadcasted on ON E satellite channel.

Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Gareeb Allah Khedr, said that the Egyptian drama conveys a negative image about Sudan, portraying it as a country that hosts Egyptian terrorists.

On the other hand, “Abu Omar al-Masry” makers refuted all the Sudanese accusations in a press statement, stressing that the series is based on a fictional scenario that does not intend to link Sudan to terrorism.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi embarked on a two-day visit to Sudan on July 18. It is Sisi’s first visit to Khartoum since being re-elected to a second presidential term earlier this year.

During a joint press conference, Sisi backed an ongoing regional bid to resolve the conflict in South Sudan as he praised Khartoum for hosting peace talks between the country's warring groups.

Sisi said the peace talks in the Sudanese capital aimed at achieving peace and stability in neighboring South Sudan, where tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced since a brutal civil war erupted in December 2013.

"To South Sudan, I want to say that we will work together with our brothers in the region for achieving peace so that South Sudanese people enjoy stability and prosperity," said Sisi in remarks broadcast on state TV after holding talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

"These efforts ... have a clear vision when it comes to security, stability and development of regional countries," added Sisi.