Sudan: United States grants "sovereign immunity" to Khartoum
Aerial view of Khartoum, Sudan.
Getty Images / Michael Runkel
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2 min
This was an expected step after Sudan was removed from the US list of countries supporting terrorism last week.
The United States Congress finally granted this Monday, December 21 “sovereign immunity” to Khartoum and voted for financial assistance to the country.
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A last-minute text that was voted on Monday, December 21 evening by the two Chambers of the American Congress.
It had been added, with other provisions, to the gigantic text of the end-of-year finance law, which notably includes
a recovery plan to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
This law was made possible by tough negotiations this weekend between elected Democrats and the White House.
The former wanted to protect the legal proceedings of their constituents who were victims of 9/11,
potentially targeting Sudan
.
The White House, under pressure from the Israelis, wanted to normalize relations between Sudan and Israel as quickly as possible, clearly conditioned by Khartoum on granting judicial immunity for its government.
Significant stimulus plan
A compromise was therefore found.
“Sovereign immunity” is in fact granted to the Sudanese government for any new anti-terrorism procedure, but to the exclusion of procedures already underway for 9/11.
The 350 million dollars placed by Sudan in an escrow account for victims of attacks involving Sudan can now be released.
And an additional 150 million dollars are made available for naturalized African American victims.
In return, the United States provides relief of $ 111 million in Sudanese debt to its American creditors, $ 120 million in assistance for the payment of its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and $ 700 million in aid. direct to its economy.
A significant stimulus package, which now only needs the signature of outgoing President Donald Trump.
► Read also: The United States withdraws Sudan from the list of countries supporting terrorism
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