The Sudanese government on Saturday said the United States move to lift sanctions on Sudan was its right, not a reward, as Khartoum has not provided any concessions for it.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir however praised the U.S decision, saying it was a positive move.
He reiterated that Sudan would continue building natural ties with the U.S.
According to Xinhua, during a meeting in Khartoum Saturday with the committee entrusted to have dialogue with the United States, al-Bashir said: “The sanctions lifting decision comes at a time when Sudan is completing the process of national dialogue and heading towards the formation of a national consensus government.”
The United States has had Sudan on its list of countries sponsoring terrorism since 1993, and has been imposing sanctions on it since 1997.
Since then, Washington has been renewing its sanctions on Sudan due to the continuing war in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions besides a number of outstanding issues with South Sudan, including the disputed oil-rich area of Abyei.
According to economic reports, Sudan’s losses due to the U.S. sanctions amounted to over 4 billion U.S. dollars annually.
