The United States had announced on 13th of January the end of 20-year economic embargo on Sudan, lifting trade and financial sanctions to foster ties with Sudanese Government.
The announcement made by the outgoing president Barack Obama’s administration comes upon an executive order to permanently repeal a range of sanctions as a result of Sudan’s efforts to improve peace domestically and security in the region, after six months of a comprehensive engagement and dialogue between the two countries.
Accordingly, most of the comprehensive U.S. economic sanctions imposed on Sudan have been lifted, and virtually all trade between the U.S. and Sudan that was previously prohibited under the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations (SSR) in 31 C.F.R. Part 538 are now authorized. The lifting of these sanctions was made by Presidential Executive Order on January 13th, as well as the implementation of a new General License by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in Section 538.540 of the SSR. Specifically, the following activities by U.S. persons are now authorized:
- The processing of transactions involving persons in Sudan, including those relating to the petroleum or petrochemical industries in Sudan;
- Exports and reexports of goods, services and technology to Sudan;
- Imports of goods, services and technology into the United States from Sudan;
- Facilitation of transactions between Sudan and third countries; and,
- Transactions involving property in which Sudan has an interest – such property has been unblocked.
The Obama Administration announced that it was taking such actions as a result of progress made by the Government of Sudan in reducing offensive military activity, pledging to maintain a cessation of hostilities in conflict areas in Sudan, improving humanitarian access throughout Sudan, and cooperating with the United States on counter terrorism. Adam J. Szubin, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence stated that, “The Executive Order issued by President Obama and the amendment to the Sudanese Regulations…aim to further incentivize the Government of Sudan to continue to improve its conduct.”
The General License issued by OFAC supersedes all existing General Licenses under the SSR, Specific Licenses issued by OFAC that are still in effect, and pending applications for Specific Licenses from OFAC relating to Sudan.
For the first time in two decades, Sudan will be able to import goods and services from the US, authorized by the US Department of Treasury.
The lift will also release frozen Sudanese property and Assets held in the US and permit the trade with oil-and gas industry in the Sudan.
However, as the executive order indicates that the sanctions will be lifted officially after 180 days by the new administration, the Department of treasury issued immediate andcomprehensive General license allowing free trade and financial transactions between Sudan, US and the third parties.
Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sudan, said in a press conference in Khartoum that, the decision by the Obama administration came with full approval of the incoming Trump administration. This was confirmed later by two former prominent congressmen in an article in “The Hill” newspaper, on 23rdJanuary.
TheUS-Chargé d’Affaires in Sudan, Steven Koutis, confirms in a press conference in Khartoum that the execution of the revocation of the sanctions start with immediate effect as of 17th January 2017.
The First Vice President of the Sudan, Bakri Hassan Salih received on 19th of January, a telephone call from the outgoing US Secretary of State, John Kerry expressing thanks and appreciation over efforts being exerted by the Sudanese Government to put Sudan-US relations on the right track, for the interest of the two countries.
H.E. Salih from his part, appreciated the personal role of Mr. Kerry to lift the sanctions, according to the US Embassy in Khartoum’s website.