US Not Ready to Remove Sudan from Terrorism List

The United States is not ready to remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, Reuters reported, citing a senior State Department official. “There are a number things we’re looking forward to engaging with a civilian-led government,” said US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, David Hale, when questioned about the matter at a news conference in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. Among those issues, he noted, were human rights, religious freedom and counter-terrorism efforts, as well as “promoting internal peace, political stability and economic recovery in Sudan.” The announcement comes after Sudan’s Transitional Military Council and an alliance of opposition groups tentatively agreed on a constitutional declaration that would begin the process of forming a new government. Sudan’s designation bars the country from receiving debt relief as well as financing from lenders like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Washington blacklisted Khartoum in 1993 during the rule of then-president Omar Al-Bashir. The Trump Administration in April suspended discussions on normalizing relations with Sudan after the military overthrew Bashir and subsequently insisted on governing the nation for a two-year interim period. This resulted in a public outcry, with weeks of violent protests staged throughout the state.