Nov, 10th, 2018 (Nyamilepedia) —Following the bilateral visit of the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Amb. Dirdeiry Mohamed Ahmed, to Washington D.C last week and his subsequent meetings with several US officials at State Department, United States is now considering rebuilding a better relationship with Sudan after decades of Sanction.
In Summary
- -Deteriorating relationship over terrorism accusations;
- -In October 1997, the U.S. imposed comprehensive economic, trade, and financial sanctions against Sudan.
In the statement seen by Nyamilepedia Editorial team, which dates back to 7th of Nov, 2018, U.S Department of State spokesperson, Heather Nauert wrote:
“The United States welcomes Sudan’s commitment to making progress in key areas. Those key areas include expanding counterterrorism cooperation, enhancing human rights protections and practices, including freedom of religion and press, improving humanitarian access, ceasing internal hostilities and creating outstanding terrorism-related claims, and adhering to UN Security Council resolutions related to North Korea.”
In October 1997, the U.S. government under former president Bill Clinton imposed comprehensive economic, trade, and financial sanctions against Sudan.
Despite the sanction, Washington D.C and Khartoum continue to enjoy fragile relationship characterized by accusations and almost military confrontation.
However, under President Trump, the United States is changing that. In October 2018, U.S announced the lift of decades of the arms embargo on Sudan.
This month the U.S said, “Sudan commits to strengthening cooperation and meaningful reforms” and working on rescinding Sudan’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
‘“As part of this process, the United States is prepared to initiate the process of rescinding Sudan’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism if the determination is made that all the relevant statutory criteria have been met, and if Sudan makes progress in addressing each of the six areas of mutual concern prioritized by the Phase II framework” read part of the press release.
Although Sudan is not a state party to the Rome Statute, on 4 March 2009, for the first time, a warrant for arrest for the Sudanese president Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir was issued and the second warrant was announced on 12 July 2010.
Up to the date “the suspect is still at large” and still wanted by the International Criminal Court.
In spite of all the arrest warrant, Washington D.C energetically pursues Sudan “for the benefit of the Sudanese people and the region” into a better relationship as long as the country is changing its attitudes and shows progress toward the “six key areas.”
“The United States is ready to cooperate with Sudan and to monitor progress as we seek meaningful development for the benefit of the Sudanese people and the region.” The report continue
This surprising development came after the Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan and the Sudanese Foreign Minister Dirdeiry Mohamed Ahmed discussed the launch of the “phase II” framework for their bilateral engagement.
According to U.S Department of State office of spokesperson, “phase II is designed to expand our bilateral cooperation, facilitate meaningful reforms to enhance stability in Sudan, and achieve further progress in a number of areas.”
