Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, in Khartoum, Sudan, on August 25, 2020.  (U.S. Embassy Khartoum photo by Alsanosi Ali) 

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a controversial speech Tuesday from Jerusalem addressing the Republican National Committee. It was the first time in at least 75 years that a sitting secretary of state addressed a national convention to nominate a party’s presidential candidate.  Pompeo then flew from Israel to Sudan as the US  seeks to strengthen Sudan-Israel ties.  Pompeo met with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in Khartoum. Pompeo and PM  Hamdok discussed continued U.S. support for the civilian-led transitional government and noted that rescission of Sudan’s State Sponsor of Terrorism designation remains a critical bilateral priority for both countries, the Department of State said in a statement.   The  U.S. Secretary and Sudanese Prime Minister also “discussed positive developments” in the Sudan-Israel relationship. During the meeting in Sudan, the Secretary of State and Prime Minister agreed that achieving mutually beneficial agreement among Sudan, Ethiopia, and Egypt on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is crucial to regional stability, the State Department said.

“Pleased to meet with Sudanese Prime Minister  today in Khartoum to underscore U.S. support for Sudan’s democratic transition and discuss Sudan’s commitment to deepening the Sudan-Israel relationship.”

-Secretary of State Pompeo Aug. 25, 2020 twitter 

Reuters reported that  PM Hamdok told Pompeo that he was not mandated to normalise ties with Israel, and the issue should not be linked to Sudan’s removal from a U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list.

Sudan PM Calls On U.S. To Remove Country From List Of State Sponsor of Terrorism

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 

Immediately after being named Sudanese Prime Minister last September 2019,  Hamdok called on the US to remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism during his address before the UN General Assembly. 

“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 said at the  UN Sep. 27, 2019. 

Sudan Remains On U.S. Terror List Despite 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 August 2019,  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. 

POMPEO Meets SUDAN  Sovereign Council Chair General el-Burhan 

Pompeo also met with Sudanese Sovereign Council Chair General Abdel Fattah el-Burhan today in Khartoum.  Secretary Pompeo and General Burhan “discussed the importance of the military’s continued support for the civilian-led transitional government and Sudan’s path toward democracy”, the state department said.   The Secretary noted that the formation of the Transitional Legislative Council is a crucial step in Sudan’s transition and stressed the need for international support to strengthen the protection of civilians in Darfur.

Met with Sudanese Sovereign Council Chair General Burhan to reaffirm U.S. support for the civilian-led transitional government and support for the deepening Israel-Sudan bilateral relationship. pic.twitter.com/kwQ9BlsgeK

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 25, 2020

Pompeo  Meets With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deliver statements to the press at the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, Israel, on August 24, 2020. [U.S. Embassy Jerusalem photo by Matty Stern]

Good to be in Israel again today with @IsraeliPM @Netanyahu. We discussed ways to address Iranian malign influence in the region, shared challenges the U.S. and Israel face, and the benefit of the Abraham Accords. As always, the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security is unwavering. pic.twitter.com/fnTRKIrH3u

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 24, 2020