US Will Not Remove Sudan From Terror List Until Military Relinquishes Power

The United States will not remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism until the nation’s military relinquishes power, Reuters reported. “We will be willing to look at removing Sudan from the list…if there is significant change in the country’s leadership and policies,” a State Department official was quoted as saying. Following the ousting of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, one of the longest-serving presidents in Africa, the military stepped in and vowed to oversee a two-year transition period that would culminate in elections. However, protesters, who since December had been calling on Bashir to step down, rejected the move and demanded the establishment of a civilian government. Former US president Bill Clinton designated Sudan a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993. Washington has declared support for the demonstrators and their aspirations for non-military rule.