Tag Archives: Sudan

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U.S. retains trade sanctions against Khartoum Government

The White House extended sanctions on Sudan citing that the later has not made any improvement that could convince the United States.

Barack Obama extended the sanctions imposed upon Sudan since 1997 for one more year. These sanctions block the ways for any trade relation and investment between the United States and Sudan. The imposition also include seizure of Sudanese assets.

US president offeredKhartoum government to improve the bilateral relations between the two countries by cooperating with the January referendum, according to which South Sudan declared its independence on July 9 this year.

Khartoum and the South Sudan government continue to fight over oil-producing border state of South Kordofan and there have been continuous clashes between the protesters and Khartoum government security forces for more than 6 months.

Blue Nile and Abyei states has remained amid violent conflicts and there is no peace in Darfur, where non-Arab protesters started violent rebel against Khartoum way back in 2003.

The United States and international community for committing genocide in crushing the rebels also criticized Khartoum government severely. The United States put Khartoum in the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Though on frequent requests by the Khartoum government, the United States had lifted control from export of agricultural products, yet it warned Sudan to improve the situation as soon as possible.

Sudan’s oil industry was also given exemption from sanctions but now the United States is advocating reimplementation of restrictions over oil trade between the two countries.

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Sudanese protest to support Syrian rebels

Supporters of Syrians’ fights against autocratic government protested in Khartoum on Friday.for the protesters called on Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad to resign.

The Syrian protests began following the surge of revolution in the Middle East and neighboring countries which led to ouster of many dictators—as in Egypt, Libya and others.

Sudan that has been a good supporter of Syrian president Assad’s main friend Iran, is openly calling on people to demonstrate, In fact, the Sudanese police deliberately allowed protesters to gather and chant slogans against Assad.

The protesters overwhelmingly shouted “Oh Bashar, oh you coward, the Muslims are right here,” and appealed the Syrian president to give in power to the rebels.

Sudanese have strongly favored fundamentalist Muslims and they support Sunni rebels in Syria against autocratic government. Thus their support to Syrian protesters has religious grounds.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir gave full support to Libyan rebels in their fight against military dictator Col Mummar Gaddafi, who ruled Libyans ruthlessly for 42 years. However, al-Bashir suppressed anti-government protests in Sudan very diplomatically. Experts predict there might be further protests in Sudan too due to deteriorating economic condition and increasing inflation in the country.

Northern Sudan lost almost all its oil resources following its separation from South Sudan when the later declared freedom in July. Since then, the Khartoum government is facing economic crisis.

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North, South Sudan pose to fight over Abyei

The two Sudanese countries are preparing for war over the control of the border town of Abyei. The town which is very rich in oil is contested between the two countries. The last report had it that the Northern Sudanese army has taken control of the town.

This was confirmed by the Khartoum television, a television owned by the North Sudan government. The report said that the army took the town after repelling what it called enemy forces. The development was also confirmed by the UN officials who have been monitoring development in the town before the formal declaration of independent by South Sudan in July.

The taking over of the town by the North occurred after about three days of crash between the North and South Sudan forces. The recent development is worrying the international community as it could trigger off a civil war between the two Sudanese countries.

South Sudan is set to become independent from the North in July and the border town of Abeyi is hotly contested by both sides. The international community is now worried whether the conflict is over or whether a new civil war is set to erupt between the two sides. The international community is waiting to see how the conflict would be resolved for the interests of both sides.

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US to remove Sudan from terrorism sponsoring states’ list

US President indicates possibilities of removing Sudan from terrorism sponsoring states’ list. Barack Obama stated that if Sudan fulfills the requirements of being recognized as a country against terrorism and accepts South Sudan as an independent nation, it would become a clean country without label of states sponsoring terrorism.

Omar al-Bashir, Sudanese President stated that he had acknowledged Southern Sudan’s demand for independence. However it is likely to create another blow on peace of the entire African region.

The United States gave a clear indication of prospects of removing Sudan’s name from the notorious list. The statement of President Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came in the wake of January referendum’s results in South Sudan. The results express Southern Sudanese people’s desire to be independent.

The US will also recognize Southern Sudan as a sovereign nation and this would facilitate Khartoum government with a chance to improve its image in the global community.

Obama also expressed hopes for better bilateral relations with Khartoum government and the new state-Southern Sudan and for their development.

Sudan President Omar al-Bashir has finally agreed to accept Southern Sudan’s independence seeing it as an unavoidable situation. He congratulated Southern Sudanese for voting to form a new nation.

Sudan has been mentioned in the US terrorism list with other three states Iran, Syria and Cuba.