Sudan welcomes US decision to lift 20-year sanctions

By Zeynep Tufekci

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) - The Sudanese Foreign Ministry welcomed the lift of sanctions by the United States after twenty years.

In a written statement published late Friday, Sudanese Foreign Ministry said the leadership, government and people welcome the permanent lift of the economic sanctions.

"Sudanese leadership, government and people welcome the positive decision made by the U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday to permanently lift the economic sanctions on Sudan," the statement said.

"Sudan regards it as a positive development in the history of the Sudanese-U.S. relations and a natural outcome of a frank, transparent and constructive dialogue that reviewed all concerns between the two countries," it added.

The statement also said Sudan was looking forward to building natural and progressive ties with the U.S., "but this necessitates removing Sudan's name from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism."

The U.S. on Friday announced the permanent lift of sanctions against Sudan, the decision will go into effect on Oct. 12.

Two weeks ago, Sudan welcomed the U.S.’ decision to remove it from the list of countries whose citizens are banned from entering the U.S.

Sudan was one of six Muslim-majority countries on the original list, but President Donald Trump on Sunday, Sept. 24, ordered it to be dropped as he issued a new list under which eight nations now have complete or partial blocks on travel to the U.S.