The United States has delayed the decision to permanently lift the economic sanctions against Sudan by three months, reports VOA.
US President Donald Trump decided to amend the decision of the former President Obama by striking July 12, 2017 and inserting in lieu thereof “October 12, 2017”. President Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, signed an executive order before leaving office in January that temporarily lifted some sanctions on the central African nation for six months.
“The Administration is committed to intensifying engagement with the Government of Sudan… including our ongoing dialogue on improving Sudan’s human rights and religious freedom practices,” spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement.
US imposed the sanctions against Sudan in 1997 after labeling Sudan a state sponsor of terrorism for allowing al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to live in the capital, Khartoum.
US added more sanction following allegations of human rights abuses carried out by government forces against ethnic minority rebels in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region.
Obama’s government gave Sudan ultimatums for the sanctions to be lifted; they were as follows to resolve the conflict in Darfur, improving access to humanitarian workers in conflict areas and cooperate with the United States on counterterrorism.
While recognizing that Sudan’s government “has made significant, substantial progress in many areas, the administration has decided that some more time is needed for this review to establish” it has “sustained sufficient positive actions across all areas” listed by Obama’s order, the State Department said.
