This measure was expected by Khartoum since the fall, in April 2019, of the autocrat Omar Al-Bashir. The United States formally removed, Monday, December 14, Sudan from its list of countries supporting terrorism, where it appeared since 1993, announced the American embassy in Khartoum on Facebook.
“With the forty-five day period of notification to Congress having expired, the Secretary of State signed a notification revoking the designation of Sudan as a State Supporting Terrorism. The measure is effective as of December 14 “, according to the same source. It should offer a breath of fresh air to the economy of this country in the throes of depression. Blacklisting prevented foreign countries from trading and investing in Sudan on pain of sanctions.
At the beginning of the afternoon, the head of the diplomacy of the United States, Mike Pompeo, commented on the announcement, believing that this withdrawal represented “A fundamental change” in relations between the two countries.
“We welcome the appeals of the Sudanese people for freedom, peace and justice, and we commend the members of the civilian-led transitional government for their courage in responding to the aspirations of their fellow citizens.”, he added, specifying that this step would allow “Greater collaboration and support for the historic transition in Sudan”.
“Support the transitional government”
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on October 19 the withdrawal of Khartoum from this blacklist. On October 23, the Sudanese authorities, while denying everything “Blackmail”, agreed, under American pressure, to normalize their relations with Israel. And it was only after this Sudanese announcement that Donald Trump actually notified the US Congress, on October 26, of Sudan’s removal from the blacklist.
The United States had returned to Khartoum, already, under former Democratic President Barack Obama, when Omar Al-Bashir began to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and played the game of peace in South Sudan. The revolution which swept through Omar Al-Bashir only accelerated the movement. The United States has “A single and narrow window to support the transitional government led by a civilian in Sudan, which has finally got rid of the Islamist dictatorship”Mike Pompeo wrote in a letter to senators in September.
The following are now on the list of “States supporting terrorism” established by the United States:
- North Korea
- Iran
- Syria
