Muhammadiyah has taken strides to enhance collaboration in higher education and strengthen diplomatic ties with Sudan. The discussions unfolded during a cordial meeting with the Ambassador of Sudan to Indonesia, Yassir Mohamed Ali Mohamed, at the Muhammadiyah Office of Jakarta on Wednesday (November 8).
Welcomed by General Secretary of Muhammadiyah Abdul Mu’ti, Secretary of Muhammadiyah Sayuti, Muhammadiyah’s Secretary, and the MuhammadiyahCouncil for Higher Education, Research, and Development, namely Widodo Muktiyo, Armai Arief, and Irwan Baadila, Yassir was accompanied by Sid Ahmed M. Alamain Hamid Alamain, a counselor from the Sudanese Embassy. Notable figures present included the Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Institute for International Relations and Cooperation Imam Addaruqutni, the Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA (UHAMKA) Gunawan Suryoputro, and the Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Tangerang (UMT) Ahmad Amarullah.
Muhammadiyah Secretary Sayuti mentioned that the meeting focused on strengthening collaborations initiated by both the Sudanese Ambassador and Muhammadiyah. The discussions, which revolved around educational partnerships and potential trade collaborations, were undertaken by Muhammadiyah in March 2023.
While the specific details of these collaborations are still under discussion, Sayuti highlighted their significance in building connections, particularly given that a substantial portion of the population in regions of Africa speaks Arabic. To illustrate, LazisMu Sudan provided access to clean water by drilling wells in Omdurman, Sudan, in November 2022.
“The strengthening of Islamic brotherhood among Islamic countries is essential. Therefore, it is entirely reasonable for Indonesia, as a predominantly Muslim country like Sudan, to seek to bolster relations,” said Sayuti.
