Sudan-Kuwait relations

Kuwait is a small, oil-rich country (of almost 18,000 sq km area) located at the top of the Gulf. It borders Saudi Arabia to the south, Iraq to the north and Iran to the east.

Its oil fields were first exploited in the 1930s, and since the development of the petroleum industry after World War II and independence in 1961, oil has dominated the economy, making up around 90% of export revenues.

In 1991, the country became scene of a massive US-led international military campaign to oust Iraqi forces, which had invaded Kuwait in August, 1990. Operation Desert Storm saw their eventual removal, but Kuwait's infrastructure was left in bad shape and had to be rebuilt. Oil exports stopped for some time.

Ties between Kuwait and Sudan were excellent and Sudan received different kinds of aid from Kuwait. But relations had strained especially since invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990 and the 1991 Gulf War in which Sudan supported Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

Kuwait had expelled hundreds of Sudanese workers after the war, but relations between the two countries started to improve in the late 1990s.

On July 22, 1999 Kuwait completed restoration of diplomatic relations with Sudan.

On February16, 2000 President Bashir visited Kuwait.

On September10, 2001 Air flights between Kuwait and Sudan resumed.

On September 19, 2008 Kuwait and Sudan restarted commercial flights.

On September 8, 2008 Kuwait and Sudan agreed to boost economic partnership. Kuwait invited Sudan to attend the Arab Economic Summit to be held in Kuwait on 19 and 20 Jan. 2009.

On November 9, 2008 Kuwait decided to permit Sudanese workers to go back once again and work in Kuwait, after 17 years of boycott.