Sudan Excluded From US List of Counterterrorism Uncooperative States

Sudanese demonstrators wave their national flag as they attend a protest rally demanding Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to step down, outside Defence Ministry in Khartoum, Sudan April 10, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer
Sudanese demonstrators wave their national flag as they attend a protest rally demanding Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to step down, outside Defence Ministry in Khartoum, Sudan April 10, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer
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Sudan Excluded From US List of Counterterrorism Uncooperative States

Sudanese demonstrators wave their national flag as they attend a protest rally demanding Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to step down, outside Defence Ministry in Khartoum, Sudan April 10, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer
Sudanese demonstrators wave their national flag as they attend a protest rally demanding Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to step down, outside Defence Ministry in Khartoum, Sudan April 10, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer

Sudan was excluded, for the first time since 1993, from the list of uncooperative countries in combating terrorism which was issued by the US State Department on Wednesday evening.

Analysts and experts said the move is an important step towards the complete removal of Sudan from the terrorism list and the possibility for Khartoum to return again to the international community. It will also have a major impact on reviving the country’s economy.

Sudan has been greatly affected by its inclusion on this list of states sponsoring terrorism. But the relations with Washington have improved following talks that Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok held with US officials over the past year.

The premier obtained promises from the State Department, Treasury and Defense officials, and leaders of the US Congress, to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Aly Verjee, researcher at the United States Institute of Peace, said that Hamdok’s government and a broad segment of Sudanese civil society have been seeking for some time to persuade the US government to remove the country from the terrorism list, as the solution to address the economic collapse and to move towards democratization.

The researcher emphasized that there were many systematic steps to be taken, both from Khartoum and Washington, to remove the country from the list, including the need for a negotiated settlement with the families of victims of terrorist attacks.

He explained that the US Treasury removed restrictions on investment and banking when the US lifted its comprehensive sanctions against Sudan in 2017, stressing that there were currently no restrictions on obtaining US foreign aid to the country.



Hamas Rejects Trump Remarks on Gaza Talks Breakdown

Members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, at the Al-Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza, on February 22. (EPA)
Members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, at the Al-Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza, on February 22. (EPA)
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Hamas Rejects Trump Remarks on Gaza Talks Breakdown

Members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, at the Al-Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza, on February 22. (EPA)
Members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, at the Al-Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza, on February 22. (EPA)

Hamas officials expressed surprise on Saturday at US President Donald Trump's accusation that the group "didn't really want" a ceasefire and hostage release deal for Gaza.

Trump made the allegation of Friday a day after Israel and the United States quit indirect negotiations with Hamas in Qatar that had lasted nearly three weeks.

"Trump's remarks are particularly surprising, especially as they come at a time when progress had been made on some of the negotiation files," Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP.

"So far, we have not been informed of any issues regarding the files under discussion in the indirect ceasefire negotiations", he added

Nunu, who is close to Hamas's most senior political officials, said he was "surprised" that Israel and the United States had left the talks.

Announcing the recall of US mediators on Thursday, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of not "acting in good faith".

Though not part of the Hamas negotiating team, Hamas politburo member Izzat al-Rishq insisted the group had shown "flexibility" in the talks.

"The American statements deliberately ignore the real obstructionist to all agreements, Netanyahu's government, which continues to put obstacles, deceive and evade commitments," he said.

Both Hamas officials called on the United States to be more even-handed in its role as mediator in the quest for a ceasefire after more than 21 months of fighting.

"We call for an end to the US bias in favour of Netanyahu, who is obstructing any agreement", Nunu said.