(4 minutes read)
· President Donald Trump has informed Congress of his intent to formally remove Sudan from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism in exchange
· As a quid pro quo, the African nation has committed to transfer US$335 million into an escrow account for American terror victims and their families
President Donald Trump has informed Congress of his intent to formally remove Sudan from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism in exchange. As a quid pro quo, the African nation has committed to transfer US$335 million into an escrow account for American terror victims and their families.
Sudan will be compensating victims of terror attacks, including the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania conducted by Osama bin Ladens al-Qaida network. That time bin Laden was living in Sudan.
With this new development, the Northern African country can get international loans and aid to boost its economy, which is in a disarray. This will also help Sudan in its transition to democracy. Significantly, the announcement is coming in less than two weeks before the U.S. presidential election.
The Trump administration is working hard to get other Arab countries in its fold. It may also pressurize Sudan to join countries like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in recognizing Israel. Normalization of relations with Israel may find stiff resistance in Sudan. But the country will be left with no options but to adhere to that in return for lifting the sanctions, which blocked the international aid to the struggling economy of the country.
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok welcomed the executive order to remove Sudan from the terrorism list and said he hoped to conclude the process in a timely manner.
