Abu Dhabi, Nov 22 (NationPress) Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), engaged in a telephone discussion with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the ongoing crisis in Sudan and the state of their bilateral relations, as reported by the official WAM news agency.

During their conversation on Friday, the two leaders assessed the recent developments in Sudan's civil conflict, underscoring the critical need for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as well as facilitating unhindered humanitarian access for the civilians caught in the conflict, according to Xinhua news agency.

The US State Department indicated in a press release that the dialogue was part of ongoing discussions aimed at securing a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump announced that he had initiated steps to conclude the hostilities in Sudan, a move he attributed to a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their meeting at the White House.

Since the civil war erupted in April 2023, relations between the UAE and Sudan have been tense, with Sudan accusing the UAE of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, a claim the UAE has consistently rejected.

This violent conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has led to the loss of tens of thousands of lives and has displaced millions, resulting in what the UN describes as one of the most severe humanitarian crises of the century.

During their call, the two diplomats also explored ways to strengthen bilateral ties and expand collaboration across various sectors. Abdullah expressed his appreciation for the recent decision by the White House to permit the export of advanced artificial intelligence semiconductors to the UAE-based G42 Group, highlighting it as a sign of the enduring and deepening strategic partnership between their nations.