US President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States would remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after the country’s new government pays millions to American victims.
“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 wrote on Twitter.
Earlier, two US officials said the Trump administration is close to an agreement with Sudan to remove Khartoum from its state sponsors of terrorism list and an announcement could be made in coming days.
The deal could also set in motion steps by Sudan toward establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, one of the officials told Reuters, following similar US-brokered moves in recent weeks by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. But details were still being worked out, the source said.
Sudan’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism dates back to its toppled ruler Omar al-Bashir, and makes it difficult for its transitional government to access urgently needed debt relief and foreign financing.
Many in Sudan see this as undeserved since Bashir was removed last year and Sudan has long cooperated with the United States on counter-terrorism.
A key sticking point in US-Sudan talks has been Sudan’s insistence that any announcement of Khartoum’s de-listing not be explicitly linked to normalization with Israel.
Differences remain between Sudanese political and military officials on how far and how fast to go in warming of relations with Israel.
