Khartoum has welcomed Washington’s intention to remove Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Qamar Al-Din said that his country has suffered much due to its place on the US terrorism list.
Minister of Finance Heba Mohamed Ali said that the country will work on putting an end to borrowing, paying off its debts, and floating the Sudanese pound.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sudan also announced that it is working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on an economic programme for the country.
Egypt has welcomed the move for Sudan’s removal from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. In a statement by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt congratulated the Sudanese government and people, adding that it hopes the move will mark the beginning of a new horizon towards progress and prosperity. The ministry added that it will put an end to Sudan’s long years of isolation and political and economic suffering.
US President Donald Trump announced, on Monday, that his country will remove Sudan from the list once Khartoum pays $335m to US victims of terror and their families.
“New government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335m to US terror victims and families. Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. At long last, Justice for the American people and big step for Sudan,” Trump tweeted.
Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdouk thanked the US President, describing the announcement as “the strongest support to Sudan’s transition to democracy and to the Sudanese people”.
“Thank you so much, President Trump! We very much look forward to your official notification to Congress rescinding the designation of Sudan as a state-sponsor of terrorism, which has cost Sudan too much,” Hamdouk wrote on Twitter.
“As we’re about to get rid of the heaviest legacy of Sudan’s previous, defunct regime, I should reiterate that we are peace-loving people and have never supported terrorism,” Hamdouk added.
The move will help Sudan improve its damaged economy, and receive much needed international aid and loans. It also raises speculation on whether Sudan would be the next Arab country to normalise ties with Israel, following the UAE and Bahrain.
On 20 September, Sudan Sovereignty Council Chief Abdel Fattah El-Burhan visited Abu Dhabi to meet with US and Emirati officials. During the meeting, discussions were held to remove Sudan from the US Terror List and write off the country’s debts to the US debts, among other related issues.
Following his return home, El-Burhan revealed that the Sudanese delegation and US officials discussed “the future of Arab-Israeli peace”.
El-Burhan met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a trip to Uganda in February this year. During the meeting, Netanyahu announced that Israel and Sudan were working towards normalising ties.
In August this year, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made what he described as his “first official non-stop flight from Israel to Sudan”, to discuss “deepening the Sudan-Israel relationship” among other issues.
However, Hamdouk announced following the visit that his transitional government “does not have a mandate” to take a decision regarding normalising ties with Israel.
