Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok on Monday said his government is dedicated to developing new relations with the United States. He made the remarks during a meeting with Stephen Koutsis, the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Khartoum, reported Anadolu Agency.
During the meeting, Koutsis welcomed the formation of the new Sudanese Cabinet and affirmed the U.S.’s willingness to develop its partnership with Sudan.
The U.S. listed Sudan in-state sponsor of terror list back k in 1993, and the designation stuck through former President Omar al-Bashir regime. The designation makes Sudan ineligible for much-needed debt relief and funding from international institutions and limits potential foreign investment.
Although the Obama administration had begun a formal process to de-list Sudan, the decision was put on hold when mass protests erupted in December against President al-Bashir’s three-decade rule, which ended when the military ousted him in April. It is expected that the removal of Sudan’s name from the list would open the door to foreign investment and allow the country to receive a much-needed International Monetary Fund and World Bank bailout package.
Early last month, David Hale, a senior US State Department official, said there were still long-standing issues that needed to be resolved before Washington could consider removing Khartoum from its list.
“There’s a number of things we’re looking forward to engaging with a civilian-led government,” Hale said.
He cited human rights, religious freedom, and counterterrorism efforts still needs attention promoting internal peace, political stability and economic recovery in Sudan.
On Monday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called out for international support for Sudan’s new civilian government. He confirmed that his government was working with Washington and other countries to remove Sudan from the terror list.
He told reporters in Khartoum that Egypt is supporting Sudan to be removed from the terrorism list. He added that his government has raised this issue with the US and will continue to push for it in coordination with the Sudanese authorities.
