Sudan summons US charged over Trump's immigration restrictions

Sudan on Sunday summoned US charge d’affaires Steven Koutsis to complain about an order by President Donald Trump that temporarily bans the entry of Sudanese citizens, among nationals of seven countries, into the United States, Reuters reported.

In a statement by the Sudanese foreign ministry, the Under-Secretary Abdul-Ghani Al-Naeem expressed his government’s “displeasure” over the procedures taken against the Sudanese citizens.

Koutsis is the most senior diplomat at the American embassy in Khartoum.

The ministry’s statement said that the decision sent a “negative message, coming two weeks after the United States coming two weeks after the United States announced it would ease economic sanctions on Sudan. It urged the United States to reconsider the decision.

“The Sudanese government regards it as a negative message under the positive developments of bilateral ties, particularly after the lifting of economic sanctions on Sudan and under the long-standing cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism”, the statement said.

Al-Naeem reiterated Sudan’s keenness to continue dialogue and cooperation with the US on regional issues of mutual concern.

“Sudan is waiting for the US government to lift Sudan’s name from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism and reconsider the executive order which restricted the entry of the Sudanese citizens into the United States”, the statement added.

According to Al-Naeem, Koutsis said that he would pass on Sudan’s message to his government, asserting that the United States is keen to continuing mutual cooperation and strengthening relations between the two countries.

Trump on Friday put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travellers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries including Sudan, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks.

Last  Saturday, the Sudanese government described Trump’s decision as “very unfortunate”, in light of “historic steps” taken just weeks earlier by his predecessor, Barak Obama, which have lifted a 20-year-old trade embargo against Sudan. “It is particularly unfortunate that this decision coincides with the two countries’ historic move to lift economic and trade sanctions”, the foreign ministry‘s Saturday statement said.

On 13 January, The United States announced the end of a 20-year economic embargo on Sudan, lifting trade and financial sanctions in an effort to foster ties with the Sudanese government, in a move which came as a result of Sudan’s efforts to improve security in the region.

However, some US sanctions tied to Sudan’s “state sponsor of terrorism” title remain in place, including a ban on weapons sales and restrictions on Darfur-related sanctions remain in effect.