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US Congress Approves Law Supporting ‘Democratic Transition’ in Sudan

US Congress Approves Law Supporting ‘Democratic Transition’ in Sudan
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US Congress Approves Law Supporting ‘Democratic Transition’ in Sudan

US Congress Approves Law Supporting ‘Democratic Transition’ in Sudan

The US Congress approved Friday a bill that supports the democratic transition in Sudan, tightens oversight of the Sudanese security and intelligence forces, and includes an assessment of the country's security sector reforms by the Sudanese government, such as dismantling militias and strengthening civilian control of the military forces.

It also expresses the lawmakers’ substantial support for providing aid to facilitate the political transition in Khartoum. This bill has been called the Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability and Fiscal Transparency Act of 2020, and it enjoys broad support from both the Democratic and Republican parties.

Accordingly, it was included in the Defense Financing bill that Congress passed with a great bipartisan consensus. The draft law requires the State Department to submit a report on its strategy, including the goals of the United States for a peaceful political transition in Sudan, and the plan it will adopt to achieve these goals.

In addition, the bill requires an assessment of the reforms needed to promote human rights and accountability, and a description of the efforts to achieve these reforms, in addition to another assessment of security sector reforms in the country by the Sudanese government, such as dismantling militias, and strengthening civilian control of the military.

According to the text of the bill, lawmakers ask the US president to provide support for efforts to protect human rights, extend the rule of law and democratic governance, in addition to supporting programs aimed at providing economic growth and the productivity of the private sector.

It also pushes for support of strategies aimed at enhancing opportunities for long-term peace and stability, and the accountability of Sudanese security and intelligence forces.

The draft text adds, “upon certification that Sudan has taken steps to improve fiscal transparency, the Department of the Treasury and the State Department must engage with international financial institutions to restructure, reschedule, or cancel the sovereign debt of Sudan.”

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UN Warns of Profound Liquidity Crisis in Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Areas

For the first time, the Houthis will face difficulties in financial transfers and foreign currency supply (local media)
For the first time, the Houthis will face difficulties in financial transfers and foreign currency supply (local media)
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UN Warns of Profound Liquidity Crisis in Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Areas

For the first time, the Houthis will face difficulties in financial transfers and foreign currency supply (local media)
For the first time, the Houthis will face difficulties in financial transfers and foreign currency supply (local media)

A UN program recently warned of low foreign currency reserves and a liquidity crisis in Houthi-controlled areas if the economic conflict with the internationally recognized government continues in Yemen.

It also noted that the poor food consumption significantly worsened in the north, increasing by 78% year-on-year, compared to a 52% increase in the south.

In its Food Security Update, the World Food Program (WFP) warned that a banking crisis is looming in Yemen, as a transaction ban has been announced between the intentionally recognized government and the Houthis-controlled areas.

“These developments, coupled with diminished foreign currency reserves in the north, could result in liquidity crisis with profound implications on markets, livelihoods, and food security situation,” it said.

The Program also noted that the current escalation in the “economic conflict” is likely to disrupt the flow of remittances and the overall financial and banking sectors, posing significant challenges for importers to procure essential food and non-food items, and ultimately impacting food supply and food price.

According to the WFP Update, this conflict comes while limited income opportunities are a key challenge to accessing food, reported by 71% in the north and 60% in the south.

It added that the depth and severity of food deprivation (poor food consumption) also peaked in May, at 32% in the north and 31% in the south.

This trend significantly worsened in the north, increasing by 78% year-on-year, compared to a 52% increase in the south.

Severe food deprivation reached an all-time high in Al Jawf, Al Bayda, Hajjah, Amran, and Al Hodeidah, WFP said.

Around 8% of households in the north reported relying on begging to meet their essential needs, compared to three percent in the south, it showed, adding that this practice was particularly pronounced in Sadah, Hajjah, Amran, and Al Bayda.

WFP also said the total volume of fuel imported via the Red Sea ports increased by 32% during Jan-May 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Fuel imports via the southern ports of Aden and Mukalla decreased by 41% year-on-year, as local crude oil production from Marib largely contributes to covering domestic fuel needs in government controlled areas.

However, the WFP update said it is crucial to closely monitor import flows over the coming months, especially given the increased insurance costs for Yemeni ports, the diminished foreign currency reserves, and the banking crisis.

Also, by the end of May 2024, WFP said that the Yemeni riyal (YER) depreciated to an all-time low of YER 1,749 per dollar in government-controlled areas, losing around 25% of its value against the US dollar year-on-year.

“This decline is primarily attributed to low foreign currency reserves and revenue shortages due to reduced crude oil exports,” it said.

The UN program also noted that the overall volume of food imports via all Yemeni seaports increased by 22% during the first five months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

However, it showed that the Red Sea ports saw a 35% annual rise in food imports during Jan-May 2024, while the southern ports of Aden and Mukalla exhibited a 16% annual decline.