Sudan criticizes US economic sanctions

KHARTOUM, June 17, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The ministerial committee in charge of service sector has criticized the economic sanction imposed by the USA, which bans Sudan from purchasing any type of modern airbus planes or import equipment and supplies which are related to measures of aviation security.

The sector asserted that the ban was still in force from the European companies owing to US shareholding in the airbus-manufacturing companies and related technologies.

In late 1997, the US Congress passed into law a bill that placed economic sanctions on the Sudan.

The sanctions block bilateral trade and prevent U.S.-based firms investing in Sudan.

The United States decided to punish the Sudanese government, which the State Department declared is a “sponsor of terrorism and a relentless oppressor of its minority Christian population.

Last May, SPLA deputy chairman Riek Machar said they were in talks with the U.S. government over exempting South Sudan from sanctions.

“We are discussing with the U.S. government what to do, either exempting southern Sudan or lifting the sanctions over the whole of Sudan and I believe we will succeed,” he said.