US President Donald Trump said that he intends to remove Sudan from the list of states sponsoring terrorism after the Khartoum government deposited $ 335 million in compensation for American victims of terrorism and their families, stressing that it agreed to this.
GREAT news!
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!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 19, 2020
Previously, Reuters quoted US officials today that the Trump administration is in the process of agreeing with Sudan to remove it from the US list of countries sponsoring terrorism, and that the announcement may be within days.
One official said, "The agreement may mark the beginning of moves by Sudan towards establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, following similar steps in recent weeks from the UAE and Bahrain, with the mediation of the United States."
The source added that work is still in progress regarding the details.
The rapprochement between Israel and another Arab country would give the US president an opportunity to promote a new diplomatic achievement as he seeks re-election on the third of next November.
Sudan's classification as a state sponsor of terrorism dates back to the era of ousted President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, which makes it difficult for his transitional government to obtain urgent debt relief or foreign funding.
Many in Sudan believe that this is no longer due after the ouster of Bashir last year, and Sudan has long cooperated with the United States in combating terrorism.
The main sticking point in the talks between the United States and Sudan was Sudan's insistence that no declaration to remove Khartoum from the list be explicitly linked to normalization with Israel.
Differences still exist between Sudanese political and military officials regarding the extent to which relations will improve with Israel and the pace to which it will proceed.