Photo / By Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times /  Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Sudan at UN world headquarters  New York Sep. 27, 2019 

By Gary Raynaldo   /  DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  –  NEW YORK – Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok called on the US to remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism during his address before the UN General Assembly last Friday. 

 “We call on the United States of America to remove Sudan from the list of” State sponsors of terrorism and cease punishing the population for acts committed by the previous regime.”

-Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Sudan

Sudan installed a civilian-led government in the Eastern African nation earlier this month following the overthrow of long-time authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir. Sudan named Hamdok as prime minister, who then formed the country’s first Cabinet since  al-Bashir was ousted last April.  Addressing the General Assembly’s annual general debate, Hamdok said Sudan’s people, after months of mass protests, had recently prevailed “against a brutal and repressive regime,” and thanked the UN Security Council, the Assembly, the African Union and other international partners for their support.  PM Hamdok said the people’s revolution aims to end Sudan’s international and regional isolation. Hamdok  told the UN delegations that Sudan inherited international sanctions, and it is on the list of State sponsors of terrorism. However, “it was the former regime that supported terrorism”, he explained, not Sudan’s people.  He added that Sudan pledges to uphold international law, human rights, and efforts to end discrimination, exploitation, injustice and inequality.  “We remain committed to maintaining international peace and security.”

VIDEO DIPLOMATIC TIMES  / Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Sudan briefs journalists at UN world headquarters  New York Sep. 27, 2019.

“Coming to the United Nations General Assembly provided us with a huge opportunity to meet with many leaders in the American administration. We had very useful discourse and discussion on the issue of  the state sponsors of terror list. The list of state sponsors we hope as we move forward we will be able to conclude very soon an agreement that will allow Sudan to be delisted. As I said earlier, this is key to anything we do. It will be an important issue in addressing debt issues, addressing investment, opening the country. I think we will get support from the international community. I am sure our friends in America are listening. The new Sudan that is upholding human rights, good governance, democracy, is not a threat to any nation, and we would be expected to be rewarded for that.”

-Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Sudan

VIDEO:  DIPLOMATIC TIMES   / Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Sudan at UN world headquarters  New York Sep. 27, 2019, thanked the  UN and the African Union for its support for Sudan’s transition from military government to civilian rule.

African UN Security Council Members Call For Lifting Of Sudan Sanctions

Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe / Kacou Houadja Léon Adom (at podium), Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to the UN, briefs press on the situation in the Sudan at UN world headquarters in New York Sep. 10, 2019. Behind him at second from left is Jerry Matthews Matjila, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the UN, and a representative from the Permanent Mission of Equatorial Guinea to the UN. At right is Fatima K. Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union.

 The three African non-permanent UN Security Council members  Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea this month also called for the lifting of sanctions against Sudan as the nation transitions to civilian-led government.  A joint statement by  Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, and Equatorial Guinea, in addition to the UN representative from the African Union (AU), welcomed the effort of all Sudanese parties that led to the appointment of the country’s new Prime Minister  Abdalla Hamdok,  as well as the formation of a civilian led transitional government last week.  They further pointed out that the AU’s Peace and Security Council had already lifted its sanctions against Sudan in light of the country’s latest political developments.

Sudan Remains On U.S. Terror List Despite African Nation Moving Toward Civilian Rule

Sudan remains in the US’ list of state sponsors of terrorism  ever since being designated as such in 1993 by then President Bill Clinton.  Sudan is still on the Terror List  despite the recent overthrow of long-time authoritarian President al-Bashir.  Last month,   US Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale met with Sudan’s Transitional Military Council Chairman, General Abdel Fattah el-Burhan in the nation’s capital city Khartoum.  They discussed the need for swift formation of a civilian-led transitional government in line with the recently-agreed political and constitutional documents, which the United States supports, according to a readout by the US State Department. However, the US terror listing remains on Sudan.