White House Considers Suitable Tools to Respond to Military in Sudan

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (Reuters)
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (Reuters)
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White House Considers Suitable Tools to Respond to Military in Sudan

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (Reuters)
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (Reuters)

The White House is looking at the full range of economic tools available to respond to the military coup in Sudan, announced National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Sullivan announced that the Biden administration is in close contact with regional leaders, including the Gulf.

"We're closely coordinating and sending a clear message to the military in Sudan that they should, first and foremost, cease any violence against innocent civilians, that they should release those who have been detained, and they should get back on a democratic path."

He asserted that the administration will "stay closely coordinated and aligned with all of the stakeholders who we believe have influence in Khartoum."

Sullivan warned that the coup undermines the country's transition to democratic civilian rule, firmly rejecting the assertions that this is within the authority of the military leadership in Sudan.

"From our perspective, these actions are utterly unacceptable. They contravene the constitutional declaration, but, more importantly, they contravene the aspiration of the Sudanese people."

He indicated that Washington is pausing the significant aspects of its economic assistance to Sudan.

"We will look at the full range of economic tools available to us in coordination and consultation with regional actors and other key countries to make sure that we are trying to push the entire Sudanese political process back in a positive direction after this significant and alarming setback."

On Monday evening, the US State Department announced the suspension of $700 million in US aid earmarked to support the democratic transition in Sudan.

The US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, who left Sudan on the eve of the coup, stressed Washington's deep concern.

He met with officials in Khartoum in an attempt to resolve the crisis between civilian and military leaders.

During an interview with Sky News, Feltman indicated that before he left Khartoum, the team of top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed to adhere to the civil democratic transition.

Feltman accused Burhan of not being honest, noting the army violated the constitutional declaration and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people.

He warned that any changes in the transitional government by force would jeopardize US aid to Sudan.

UN chief Antonio Guterres also condemned the "ongoing military coup" in Sudan, saying Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and all other officials "must be released immediately."

In a statement, he called for the "immediate reconstitution" of the government, which is to guide Sudan through to democratic elections.

The Secretary-General condemned what he called "an epidemic of coup d'états."

He urged the UN Security Council to act to effectively deter them as the 15-member body prepared to discuss the military takeover in Sudan.

"The Sudanese people have shown very clearly their intense desire for reform and democracy," Guterres told reporters.

He condemned the Sudanese army's seizure of power on Monday and urged all parties to exercise "maximum restraint."

Guterres pointed to strong geopolitical divides, Security Council's "difficulties in taking strong measures," and the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as creating an environment in which some military leaders feel that they have total impunity, they can do whatever they want because nothing will happen to them.

"My appeal is for - especially the big powers - to come together for the unity of the Security Council to make sure that there is effective deterrence in relation to this epidemic of coup d'états," he said.

"We have seen that effective deterrence today is not in place."



Lebanese Govt. to Seek New IMF Program, Policy Statement Says

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo
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Lebanese Govt. to Seek New IMF Program, Policy Statement Says

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo

Lebanon's new government will negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for a new program and will work to deal with the country's financial default and public debt, according to a policy statement approved by the cabinet late on Monday.

The statement, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, said the government would work for an economical revival that could only be achieved through restructuring the banking sector.

Lebanon has been in deep economic crisis since 2019, when its financial system collapsed under the weight of massive state debts, prompting a sovereign default in 2020 and freezing ordinary depositors out of their savings in the banking system.

Beirut reached a draft funding deal with IMF in 2022 - contingent on reforms that authorities failed to deliver.

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, who took office as part of a new government agreed earlier this month, told Reuters an IMF mission is expected to visit Lebanon in March.

Jaber said he had met the IMF's resident representative in Lebanon, Frederico Lima, and confirmed that the government plans to move ahead with reforms.

Lebanon's political landscape has been turned on its head since the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, long a dominant player in Lebanese politics, was badly pummelled in last year's war with Israel.

Reflecting the shift in the power balance, the government policy statement did not include language used in previous years that was seen to legitimize a role for Hezbollah in defending Lebanon, saying instead "we want a state that has the decision of war and peace".

The statement said it was required to adopt a national security strategy and a foreign policy that works to 'neutralize' Lebanon from conflicts.

In the field of energy, the Lebanese government will seek to resume work in oil and gas exploration, according to the cabinet statement. It said the government planned to establish a Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence.

With a new administration in neighboring Syria, the statement said the Lebanese government believed it has an opportunity to start a serious dialogue aimed at controlling and demarcating the borders and working to resolve the issue of displaced Syrians in Lebanon.