November 11, 2018

Washington DC: The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy strongly opposes the proposed lifting of the US designation of Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism and urges caution in negotiation with al-Bashir regime. A number of sanctions were lifted last year in an effort to influence Sudan to temper its genocidal policies toward the indigenous black population in Darfur and the Nuba Mountains and to increase its cooperation on counter-terror.

The lifting of these sanctions has done little to help Sudan’s stagnating economy and its debt burden is ballooning. New investment into the country is likely hindered by its remaining a designated state sponsor of terror by the US government. However, China is moving in aggressively with a seven billion dollar loan package and debt relief. There are also talks taking place between the government of Sudan and Russia as well as with Turkey.

“The state sponsor of terror designation is the one big lever we have to influence Sudan on issues of human rights, support for international terror, and the ongoing ethnic cleansing in the country,” said AMCD secretary Rebecca Bynum. “It should not be removed unless substantial progress can be demonstrated, and this is highly unlikely as long as Omar al-Bashir remains in power.”

“The issue is not about changing the country’s behavior,” stated AMCD member Ibrahim Ahmed. “It is about the fact that the regime committed genocide and Bashir was indicted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. It’s about the ethical and moral obligation for US not to deal with terrorists and the genocidal regime of Sudan. This is a justice and accountability issue.”

AMCD holds out hope for peace and freedom for the Sudanese people.