United States revoked economic sanctions against Sudan
Washington, October 7: The United States taking a massive move has lifted its 20-year-old trade stringent economic sanctions against Sudan, quoting improvement on human rights and progress on counter-terrorism.
State Department spokesperson, Heather Nauert said that the United States decided to formally revoke a number of economically focused sanctions on Sudan to maintain a cessation of hostilities in conflict areas, improve humanitarian access throughout Sudan, and maintain cooperation with the US on addressing regional conflicts and the threat of terrorism.
The revocation which will be effective as of October 12th of this year came after months of diplomatic talks between the two countries that began during the tenure of former US president Barack Obama. “The decision today is an important milestone marking progress in our bilateral relations, but it’s also important to keep it in perspective. This marks one step forward on a long and hard road where much more progress is needed,” Heather Nauert added.
Meanwhile, Human rights groups opposed the deal, but it was a process that was started under former President Barack Obama. On the other side, Sudan has hailed the lifting of sanction and said it is a positive decision. A Foreign Ministry statement welcoming the decision read, "The leaders of Sudan, the government of Sudan and the people of Sudan welcome the positive decision taken by American President Donald Trump of removing the economic sanctions completely."
Interestingly, Washington had imposed the sanctions in 1997 over Khartoum's alleged support to Islamist militant groups. Now slain Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden lived in Sudan between 1992 to 1996. The sanctions, which included a trade embargo and other penalties, have essentially cut off Sudan from most of the global financial system for the past 20 years.