Sudan freezes sanctions talks with Washington

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA)- Hours after Washington decided to delay a decision on lifting sanctions on the country, Sudan’s president decided on Wednesday to freeze negotiations with the U.S. for three months.

In a statement published by the state news agency, Omer Al-Bashir issued a republican decree “freezing the work of the negotiation committee with the United States of America until Oct. 12, 2017.”

Sudan has denounced Washington punting the issue of lifting sanctions for three more months.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency Wednesday, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour expressed his regret at the U.S. decision despite Khartoum’s commitment to implement its conditions for a five-track peace deal.

The U.S. State Department said in a press release on Wednesday that the decision will allow more time to implement the peace deal agreed earlier between Washington and Khartoum.

In mid-January, the outgoing Obama administration announced an easing of the two-decades-long sanctions, but after a delay of six months, to see Khartoum’s commitment to the five-track deal.

The deal includes cooperation with the U.S. on addressing regional conflicts and the threat of terrorism, cessation of hostilities in conflict areas in Sudan, improving humanitarian access throughout Sudan, support for the peace process in South Sudan, and cooperation in combating Ugandan rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).