BY HAILE DEMEKE
Getting peace prevailed in the Horn of Africa does have an immense repercussion to the development, growth and prosperity of the entire continent.
However, sometimes countries encounter unknowingly or calculatingly computed challenges and allegations to have them hard time. For instance, Sudan has been enlisted in the terrorist group US suspicion that the country supported terrorist groups.
Luckily, President Donald Trump last week said Sudan will be erased from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism if it meets its pledge to pay $335 million to American terror victims and their families.
The move would open the door for the African country to get international loans and aid helps revive its battered economy as well as fosters its transition to democracy.
Delisting Sudan from the state sponsors blacklist is a key incentive for the Sudanese government to normalize relations with Israel. Trump’s announcement came after Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin traveled to Bahrain to cement the Gulf state’s recognition of the Jewish state.
“Great news, new government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335 million to U.S. terror victims and families,” he wrote on Twitter. “Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, at long last, justice for the American people and big step for Sudan!”
General Abdel-Farrah Burhan, head of Sudan’s ruling sovereign council, welcomed Trump’s announcement as a constructive step. He said in a tweet the removal would come in recognition of the historic change that has taken place in Sudan.
In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok tweeted in his facebook page that ‘‘today, after more than two decades, I announce to our people the name of our beloved country has removed from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism and we are relieved from the international and global siege in which the behavior of the dislocated regime enters us.”
“Today we return in full history, civilization of our people, the greatness of our country, the violence of our revolution to the international family as a peace loving country, and a force supporting regional and international stability”.
This accomplishment that the transitional government has worked towards this end since its first day contributing a lot to reforming the economy, attracting investments and remittances of our citizens abroad through official channels, creating new job opportunities for youth, and so many other positive strides. I say it again and with the mouth, we will hold on and we will pass and win.”
Getting off the list would help his government benefit from debt relief and access foreign loans and investments, which are seen as the country’s gateway to economic recovery. “It’s a long way,” he
said. “It needs serious planning and hard work to achieve the maximum benefit of this opportunity.”
Once the compensation money has been deposited, Trump is to sign an order removing Sudan from the terrorism list, on which it has languished under heavy American sanctions for 27 years.
After nearly for three decades on the US state sponsor of terrorism list, it was announced that Sudan’s terror designation was at long last being removed. For the increasingly beleaguered transitional government of Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, and the rest of Sudan, the news comes in the nick of time.
Removal from the terrorism list was the government’s ultimate prize and brings with it a precious injection of political capital that, at a minimum, will provide more time for the government to try to get its economic house in order and make good on the promise of delivering a lasting democracy dividend to Sudan’s long-suffering population.
Executive Secretary of IGAD, Dr. Workneh Gebeyhu congratulated the government and people of Sudan for being removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and said that the removal of Sudan from state sponsor list will play a vital role in ensuring the political transition in the country.
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Security Sector Program (SSP) Director Commander Abebe Muluneh told The Ethiopian Herald that, Sudan has been under sanction by US for nearly three decade. The embargo made by the US affected the Sudan’s economic, political and social processes in the country for the past years.
Currently the country is in transitional process and the removal of Sudan from the US state sponsors of terrorism list is a crucial opportunity for Sudan’s transitional government conjoining peace agreement with Israel.
Above all, the removal of Sudan from the state sponsor of terrorism will further boost the social, economic and political relations in the horn of African countries and also for the continent as well.
The lift will ease activities being held in the Horn. On the other hand, lifting Sudan from state sponsors of terrorism is an important step, pairing with an agreement to normalize relations with Israel.
The removal of Sudan will further ease economic cooperation between the neighboring countries apart from securing pace and stability in the region. Previously, there was a challenge to trade with Sudan due to the embargo. Now the trade relation will be easily conducted among the neighboring countries as the state is lifted from the state sponsor of terrorism.
On the other hand, countries are on the transformation process and the removal of Sudan from the list will create opportunity for the success of the reform in the horn of African countries. Countries have to work together to bring successful transition in social, economic, political arena.
Dialogue, political commitment from each country is crucial both in maintaining peace and stability and bringing overall economic development.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Demeke Mekonnen, conveyed warmest congratulatory message to the people and government of the Republic of the Sudan for being delisted from the state sponsors of terrorism.
He said that Ethiopia strongly believes that this long overdue decision by the government of United States to remove Sudan from such a list and lifting of economic and financial sanction will pave the way for the Sudan to re-engage with its development partners in realizing the development aspiration of its people. It is indeed a clear recognition of the fact that the reform is on the right track and will open a new chapter for progress and prosperity of the country.
He further stated that Ethiopia is committed than ever to support and go along with the government of Sudan in this important transition period.
The Ethiopian Herald December 25/2020
