The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on his way to Sudan from Israel, has touted the direct flight as a signal of a change in relationship between the two countries.

https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1298168689683038208?s=20

Sudan under ousted leader Omar al-Bashir maintained a hardline policy towards Israel which has thawed since a transitional government came into power last year.

Sudan has been pushing to be removed from the list of countries that the US considers state sponsors of terrorism.

Mr Pompeo is expected to meet senior Sudanese officials including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

The meeting will discuss support for the civilian-led government and "deepening the Sudan-Israel relationship", according to a statement from the state department.

An official from the department told news agency Reuters that "it's possible that more history will be made," in regard to whether Sudan might join the UAE as the third Arab country to normalise relations with Israel.

On 19 August, Sudan announced it had sacked its foreign ministry spokesman after he called the UAE decision "a brave and bold step".