The United States said Tuesday it may consider lifting Sudan off the state sponsor of terrorism list if the country’s leadership and policies change and the military no longer holds power.
“We will be willing to look at removing Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism if there is significant change in the country’s leadership and policies,” a US State Department official told Reuters.
The Trump administration suspended talks on normalizing relations with Sudan after the military deposed veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir last week saying it would oversee a two-year transition, followed by elections.
Separately, Uganda said it would consider granting asylum to Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court.
"If Uganda is approached to grant asylum to Bashir it is an issue that can be considered at the highest level of our leadership," state minister for foreign affairs Henry Okello Oryem told AFP.
He said that as a result of Bashir's key role in mediating a peace deal in neighboring South Sudan, "his asylum in Uganda is what the government of Uganda can consider."
In the meantime, "Uganda is keenly following the developments in Sudan and we ask the new leadership there to respect the aspirations of the Sudanese people among them peaceful transfer of power to the civilian rule".
Bashir's three-decade reign was toppled last week by top commanders after four months of nationwide demonstrations.
Protest leaders say Bashir must face justice, however the transitional military council currently leading the country has said it will not extradite the ousted leader.
The council says Bashir remains in custody, but has not specified his whereabouts or that of other senior regime leaders.
Uganda is one of several African nations which have hosted Bashir in the past without handing him over to the ICC, despite being signatories of the tribunal.
Bashir faces charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to the conflict in Darfur.
