Trump to remove Sudan from US terror blacklist
United States president Donald Trump has announced that the country will remove Sudan from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list after Sudan’s government paid compensation to victims of attacks.
“New government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335 MILLION to US terror victims and families. Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. At long last, JUSTICE for the American people and BIG step for Sudan!”, Trump, who is seeking re-election next month, wrote on Twitter.
Sudan’s prime minister Abdalla Hamdok thanked Trump: “We very much look forward to your official notification to Congress rescinding the designation of Sudan as a state-sponsor of terrorism, which has cost Sudan too much”, he said.
The US blacklisted Sudan in 1993, accusing the regime led by Omar al-Bashir of supporting terrorist organisations. Bashir, who was ousted by protests last year, had links with Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin-Laden.
Washington accused Khartoum of supporting al-Qaeda and of helping it bomb the US embassies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya in 1998 and to attack the USS Cole off the port of Aden in 2000. In return for being delisted, Sudan’s transitional government has agreed to pay $335m to victims of the attacks.