Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, widely known as Hemeti, who is number two in Sudan's ruling council, will be in the capital for two days to meet "several Ethiopian officials", Sudan's state news agency SUNA and Ethiopia's Fana reported.

He was met at Addis Ababa airport by Ethiopian Defence Minister Abraham Belay, a statement from Sudan's ruling council said. He was also welcomed by senior officials from Ethiopia' government and intelligence services, it added.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted on Saturday to express his "appreciation for the deep historical bonds that bind our two people".

Relations between Khartoum and Addis Ababa deteriorated due to a territorial conflict over the disputed Al-Fashaqa border region, where Ethiopian farmers cultivate fertile land claimed by Sudan.

There have been sporadic deadly clashes between the two sides in recent years.

Al-Fashaqa also borders Ethiopia's troubled Tigray region, and tens of thousands of Ethiopian refugees have crossed into Sudan fleeing fighting.