US extends sanctions on Sudan for another year

The United States has extended sanctions on Sudan for another year due to the “extraordinary threat” Khartoum’s policies pose to the national security of the United States.

The sanctions, announced yesterday by President Barack Obama, will come into effect on 3rd November.

“The actions and policies of the government of Sudan continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” Obama said in a statement.

In another statement released yesterday, the US embassy said the one-year extension was only “technical” and the sanctions could still be eased by the US when the time was right.

The easing of sanctions was expected after repeated visits by US special envoy Donald Booth to Khartoum this year.

It was “part of a routine, annual process that does not prejudice the ability of the president to provide sanctions relief at any point in the future,” the embassy said.

The trade embargo also imposed by the US on Sudan has been in effect since 1997 for its alleged support for Islamist groups and for hosting former Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Khartoum from 1992 to 1996.

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Washington refused Al-Bashir a visa last year to attend the United Nations General Assembly due to the ICC’s arrest warrant.

According to the United Nations, at least 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Darfur and around 2.5 million have been displaced since 2003.