President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Lt. Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan discussed Monday with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrangements related to removing Sudan from the list of states sponsoring terrorism, which is expected to be issued in the coming weeks, as well as the Sudanese role in maintaining peace in the region and resolving the conflict in Ethiopia.
The Sudanese Sovereignty Council said in a statement, of which Asharq Al-Awsat obtained a copy, that Burhan received a phone call from Pompeo regarding bilateral relations between Washington and Khartoum, and ways to promote and develop them, as well as issues of common interest at the regional and international levels.
The phone call also dealt with arrangements for removing Sudan's name from the list of states sponsoring terrorism, which is expected to be issued in the coming weeks.
According to the Sovereignty Council statement, the two men discussed the situation in Ethiopia, and the need to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict in a way that achieves regional peace and strengthens security in the region. During the call, Pompeo expressed his country's appreciation of Sudan hosting Ethiopian refugees, despite the exceptional economic conditions it is witnessing.
Sudan had been listed as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1993 for harboring al Qaeda’s then-leader, Osama bin Laden, and aiding terrorist groups.
Washington later imposed economic sanctions on Sudan, due to the bloody conflict in Darfur and the killing of hundreds of thousands, and the displacement of about two million persons.
Last October, US outgoing President Donald Trump said 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.
