He emphasized that the transitional government does not have a mandate to normalize with Israel
Hamdok discusses with Pompeo supporting the civilian government and removing Sudan from the terrorism list
Hamdok during his meeting with Pompeo in Khartoum. A.F.B.
The head of the Sudanese transitional government, Abdullah Hamdok, announced yesterday, after talks with the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in Khartoum that his government “does not have a mandate” to take a decision regarding normalization with Israel, and that its mission is “specific” to complete the transitional process in order to reach a measure. elections.
Hamdok said that he had held "direct and transparent" talks with the US Secretary of State, which included removing Sudan from the US list of states sponsoring terrorism.
Hamdok also confirmed on Twitter that his talks with Pompeo addressed the US government's support for the Sudanese government, led by civilians. "I look forward to concrete positive steps that support the glorious December revolution" in Sudan, he said.
The official spokesman for the government, Minister of Information Faisal Mohamed Saleh, issued a statement about Pompeo's visit to Khartoum, reported by the Sudan News Agency (SUNA), in which he said that the two sides discussed the situation in Sudan, the path of the transition process, bilateral relations between the two countries, and efforts to remove Sudan from the list Countries that sponsor terrorism.
Regarding the American request to normalize relations with Israel, Hamdok explained to the US minister, according to the statement, that “the transitional phase in Sudan is led by a broad coalition with a specific agenda to complete the transition process and achieve peace and stability in the country, leading to free elections, and the transitional government does not have a mandate beyond these tasks. To decide on normalization with Israel, and this matter will be decided upon after the completion of the transitional government.
The Prime Minister called on the US administration to separate the process of removing Sudan from the list of states sponsoring terrorism and the issue of normalization with Israel.
The United States has been negotiating with Sudan for months to remove Khartoum from the American blacklist.
Washington has imposed sanctions on Sudan since the 1990s, during the era of ousted President Omar al-Bashir, against the backdrop of the country’s harboring of extremists, including the former terrorist al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Trade sanctions were lifted in 2017, but Sudan is still on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, which prevents it from obtaining badly needed loans from international lenders.
For his part, Pompeo affirmed the US administration’s support for the transitional process in Sudan, as well as its support for the peace process and efforts to achieve security and stability in Darfur and the rest of the areas affected by the conflict.
The visit of the US Secretary of State to Khartoum comes as part of a tour he is undertaking in the Middle East, which he initiated with Israel.
Pompeo had expressed his happiness to make the first official direct flight from Israel to Sudan.
"Happy to announce that we are making the first official non-stop flight from Israel to Sudan," the minister wrote on his Twitter account, during his flight from Israel to Sudan.
The US State Department said that Pompeo's short stop in Khartoum was to discuss US support for the civilian-led government, as well as to "deepen the relationship between Sudan and Israel."
This is the first visit of a US Secretary of State to Sudan since 2004.