Sudan, US discuss progressing 'bilateral dialogue'

Sudan’s Prime Minister, Motazz Moussa, and the special aide to the US president and the top adviser for Africa at the National Security Council, Cyril Sartre, yesterday discussed strengthening ties between the two countries.

The two officials’ meeting came as Sartre, along with an American delegation, paid a visit to the Sudanese capital of Khartoum earlier this week for talks on US-Sudan relations.

The Sudanese foreign minister, Osama Faisal, said in a statement that the meeting discussed “the Sudanese-American dialogue process,” adding that the US delegation was keen on progressing a discussion on all issues of common concern between the two countries.

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“The Prime Minister [Moussa] briefed the American delegation on the economic and political situation in Sudan as well as the government’s vision to overcome the challenges faced by the country,” Faisal pointed out.

Sartre described the meeting as “fruitful and constructive,” noting that his visit aimed at “continuing the dialogue between the two sides [Sudan and US] and putting it on its right track.”

“This will lead to the removal of Sudan’s name from the states sponsors of terrorism list soon,” he stressed.

Washington has been placing Sudan on the so-called “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list, under which the African country continues to face a ban on international weapons sales as well as restrictions on US aid. On 6 October 2017, the US President Donald Trump lifted the long-standing trade embargo against Sudan.

The US-based activist group Enough Project recently called on their government to suspend talks with Sudan to hold it accountable for the violence and torture against protesters. Since 19 December 2018, the country has been witnessing protests denouncing the deteriorating of living conditions and demanding the overthrow of the regime.