Pompeo Notifies Hamdok of Progress on Removing Sudan from Terror List

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok attends a ceremony for new civilian governors. EPA file photo
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok attends a ceremony for new civilian governors. EPA file photo
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Pompeo Notifies Hamdok of Progress on Removing Sudan from Terror List

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok attends a ceremony for new civilian governors. EPA file photo
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok attends a ceremony for new civilian governors. EPA file photo

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok received a telephone call on Thursday from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during which they reviewed lifting Sudan from the US list of states sponsoring terrorism.

"We are looking forward to the continued support of the US administration to Sudan's transitional government," said Hamdok on his Twitter account.

Hamdok also received a phone call from Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in which they discussed several matters, according to a statement by the Friends of Sudan meeting that will be sponsored and hosted by Saudi Arabia on Aug 12.

The phone conversation tackled cooperation to maintain the security of the Red Sea, and develop bilateral investments. They both discussed the importance of activating the Saudi-Sudanese Joint Committee and pushing towards the success of the transitional period.

On Saturday, Sudan's government welcomed remarks from Pompeo that he would like to remove Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The US designated Sudan a state sponsor of terror in 1993 over ousted President Omar al-Bashir’s ties with terrorist groups.

The Sudanese government often reiterates its commitment to holding talks with the US administration in order to end Sudan’s isolation.

Last week, the US Department of State expressed before Congress the support to a democratic transition in Sudan.

Earlier, the Sudanese government agreed to compensate victims’ families of the USS Cole Bombing in 2000 and the explosions at the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998.



Rubio Told Egypt about Need to Stop Hamas from Governing Gaza Again

Internally displaced Palestinians make their way from southern to northern Gaza along Al Rashid road, central Gaza Strip, 27 January 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Internally displaced Palestinians make their way from southern to northern Gaza along Al Rashid road, central Gaza Strip, 27 January 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
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Rubio Told Egypt about Need to Stop Hamas from Governing Gaza Again

Internally displaced Palestinians make their way from southern to northern Gaza along Al Rashid road, central Gaza Strip, 27 January 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Internally displaced Palestinians make their way from southern to northern Gaza along Al Rashid road, central Gaza Strip, 27 January 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Egypt's foreign minister on Tuesday it was important to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza again, the State Department said, with their call coming after President Donald Trump suggested Egypt and Jordan should take more Palestinians.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Trump on Saturday floated a plan to "clean out" Gaza, where Israel's war has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis, in comments that echoed long-standing Palestinian fears of being permanently driven from their homes.

The suggestion by Trump was not mentioned in the US State Department statement released on Tuesday after the call between Rubio and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Reuters said.

Jordan and Egypt had pushed back over the weekend after Trump's comments that they should take in Palestinians from Gaza. Asked if this was a temporary or long-term solution, Trump had said: "Could be either."

KEY QUOTES

"He (Rubio) also reinforced the importance of holding Hamas accountable," the State Department said after Tuesday's call.

"The Secretary reiterated the importance of close cooperation to advance post-conflict planning to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza or threaten Israel again."

CONTEXT

Rubio held a call a day earlier with Jordan's King Abdullah and the US statement after that call, too, did not mention Trump's remarks on Palestinian displacement. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas group attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. The fighting has currently paused amid a fragile ceasefire.