The carrot of aid and the stick of sanctions... What are the Biden administration's options toward Sudan?

Washington - The

developments in Sudan revealed the limited options available to the administration of President Joe Biden in dealing with what many commentators considered a military coup against the democratic transition process.

Between expected traditional criticism, references to stopping the provision of economic and financial aid, and threats of imposing sanctions on some Sudanese military officials, many commentators do not expect Washington to be able to change the new realistic balance of power in the Sudanese equation.

The absence of diplomatic relations between the two sides for more than 3 decades, and the absence of any defense cooperation or Sudanese military procurement programs from the United States, limited Washington's role in dealing with developments in Sudan.

traditional criticism

Statements were issued and tweets were issued by a number of senior members of Congress, in addition to official spokesmen in the White House and the State Department, all of which were unanimous in condemning the army’s intervention, imposing a state of emergency, and arresting the prime minister and a number of senior civilian officials.

In a statement, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, condemned "the act of Major General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan to dismantle the Sudanese Sovereignty Council and the transitional government, and the reported arrest of Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok and other ministers, and leaders of civil society."

White House deputy spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre also confirmed the Biden administration's rejection of the military's actions in Sudan, and called for the immediate release of the prime minister and other officials who have been placed under house arrest.

economic aid

On the other hand, some officials resorted to pointing out the importance of the American aid provided to Sudan.

The impact of Washington's aid depends not only on its financial value, but also on the messages it carries to other countries and international development and financing organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in dealing with Sudan.

Senator Chris Coons stressed that US aid to Sudan "will end if the authority of Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok and the full transitional government is not restored."

Atlantic Council expert Cameron Hudson expects Sudan to see more difficult economic times in the future as a result of the coup, as "international aid will quickly be frozen, including debt relief in Sudan in ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund."

Indeed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday, Monday, that it will stop aid worth 750 million dollars to Sudan.

international sanctions

In a related context, Ned Price stressed that his country "will not hesitate to hold accountable those who engage in violence and deviate in Sudan from the path of democracy."

He added, "What happened in Sudan last night is a military takeover of power."

US laws stipulate to stop providing any aid to ruling regimes that overturn the democratic political process, and in many cases, US sanctions are imposed on the leaders of military coups.

Pressure on other players

"The world is watching, and we cannot stand idly by in the face of military repression in Sudan," Senator Menendez explained.

"Our partners in the Arab world, and elsewhere, must press for the release of the prime minister and other government officials, and for the transfer of leadership to a civilian government as is evident under the provisions of the transitional constitution," he stressed.

For its part, Michelle Gavin, an African expert at the Council on Foreign Relations and a former ambassador, called on the Biden administration to "work at the highest levels to ensure the greatest possible multilateral solidarity in opposing the seizure of military power in Sudan."

She pointed out that a message must be conveyed "to Egypt and the Gulf powers that supporting the coup plotters will have tangible costs."

She said that outside powers cannot control events on the ground in Sudan, "but they can restrict the choices of those who would hijack the Sudanese revolution to protect their status and wealth."