The European Union has welcomed the US decision to ease the economic embargo imposed on Sudan two decades ago, Anadolu news agency reported on Tuesday.
“The announcement of President [Barack] Obama on the easing of the sanctions on Sudan is an important step that should provide the basis for the government of Sudan to move forward with political reforms and to contribute to peace in the region,” said an EU press release. “The EU will continue its dialogue with the government of Sudan towards further progress and urge all parties to speed up engagement on the AUHIP [African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan] roadmap framework.” It noted that the EU has supported the roadmap in the past and will continue to do so.
Last Friday, Anadolu reported that the US had announced the lifting of sanctions after Sudan had made “progress” in counterterrorism efforts and keeping to a ceasefire in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile provinces. “Sudan has met our benchmarks and made significant progress toward these goals, as well as new commitments,” the State Department said.
The decision to ease the sanctions will be implemented after 180 days; the delay is “intended to encourage the government of Sudan to sustain its efforts in these areas [Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile],” Obama said in a letter to the US Congress.
According to Anadolu, the spokesman of the Sudanese Cabinet, Omer Mohamed Salih, told reporters that it has decided to extend the ceasefire for six months in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile in order to pave the way for peace and stability in the country.
The US blacklisted Sudan in 1993 and imposed economic sanctions on the country in 1997. In early2014, the two countries started talks after the US had supported a national dialogue initiative called for by President Omar Al-Bashir.