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Sudan Tribune

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US retains Sudan on terrorism blacklist despite continuation of “counterterrorism cooperation”

August 7, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The US Department of State has retained Sudan on its blacklist of “State Sponsors of Terrorism” despite acknowledging the continuation of their “bilateral counter-terrorism relationship”.

US state secretary Hillar Clinton - US Envoy to the UN Susan Rice
US state secretary Hillar Clinton – US Envoy to the UN Susan Rice
In its 2009’s Country Report on Terrorism, which was released yesterday August 06, the US government cited Sudan, along with Cuba, Iran and Syria, as states sponsors of terrorism. The report, however, did not omit to mention the continuation of “solid bilateral counter-terrorism relationship” with Sudan.

“The Sudanese government continued to pursue counter-terrorism operations directly involving threats to US interests and personnel in Sudan”, the report said and revealed that “Sudanese officials have indicated that they view their continued cooperation with the US as important and recognize the potential benefits of US training and information-sharing”.

Sudan remains under US economic sanctions and the US list of state sponsors of terrorism despite the fact that it has maintained a strong intelligence partnership with the CIA. According to a report published by the Los Angele Times in 2005, Sudan has provided access to terrorism subjects and shared intelligence data with the CIA. The poster boy of that partnership, ex-intelligence chief Salah Gosh, who now serves as a presidential adviser for security affairs, told the Times: “We have a strong partnership with the CIA. The information we have provided has been very useful to the United States”.

However, Sudan’s intelligence cooperation with the US received little reciprocation so far. In May 2004, the US administration of President Bush deleted Sudan from the list of states considered “non-cooperative” in the war against terrorists, but the country continues to suffer from US economic sanctions and being on the list of terrorism sponsors.

Sudanese officials repeatedly voiced their frustration over the US’s refusal to lift economic sanctions on Sudan and remove its name from the terrorism list. In reference to this point, the report noted that “while the bilateral counterterrorism relationship remains solid, hard-line Sudanese officials continued to express resentment and distrust over actions by the United States and questioned the benefits of continued counterterrorism cooperation”.

“Their assessment”, says the report, “reflected disappointment that Sudan‘s cooperation has not resulted in its removal from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism”.

Nevertheless, the report says that “there was no indication that the Sudanese government will curtail its current level of counterterrorism cooperation despite bumps in the overall bilateral relationship”.

The report went on says that some of “Al-Qa‘ida-inspired terrorist” as well as “lements of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad remained in Sudan in 2009”

“With the exception of Hamas, whose members the Sudanese government considers freedom fighters, the government does not openly support the presence of extremist elements in this country,” added the report. It also said that although Sudanese officials “have welcomed Hamas representatives but they have limited their activities to fundraising”.

The report further warned that despite the government’s “hard work to disrupt foreign fighters from using Sudan as a logistics base and transit point for terrorists going to Iraq, gaps remain in the Sudanese government‘s knowledge of these individuals and its ability to identify and capture them”

The report also claimed the existence of evidence suggesting that “individuals who were active participants in the Iraqi insurgency have returned to Sudan and are in a position to use their expertise to conduct attacks within Sudan or to pass on their knowledge to local Sudanese extremists”. It also said that “there was some evidence to suggest that Sudanese extremists participated in terrorist activities in Somalia”.

ST

2 Comments

  • Jamus
    Jamus

    US retains Sudan on terrorism blacklist despite continuation of “counterterrorism cooperation”
    How would the likes of Salah Gosh,Omar,Taha,Nafie and Awad el Jazz expect Sudan to removed from black list of state sponsors of terrorism.What they are currenntly doing in Darfur explicitely is an act of terrorism.In parts,terrorism is defined as deliberate targeting of civilians and any of their installations.They are ruthless terrorists,they are now clandestinely planning to export this to Southern Sudan.They should remain that way.The existing sanctions need to be reviewed and further restriction provisions added.Their families and children should be restricted from travelling abroad to prestigious institutions of learning while the poor kids don’t have a bread on the table,leave alone access to medical care and education.Consult me and I will identify the ways they embezzled and smuggled the money out of the country.These money should be frozen where ever they are.

    Jamus

    Reply
  • Don-Don Malith Rual
    Don-Don Malith Rual

    US retains Sudan on terrorism blacklist despite continuation of counter-Terrorist Latest Comments By Mr. Don-Don M. Rual
    By Don-Don M. Rual Yath; According to New York Times, Yesterday Morning, A senior State Department official was quoted in the new York Times Saying, ” There is no sense of Urgency that this is a crucial moment (in Sudan)”

    The comment comes on the heels of an alarming rise in the violence in Darfur and just Months be4 South Sudan is scheduled to vote for its own independence- an event that ,if mishandled, could pluge Sudan into other 22 years out war.

    This member of the staff was quoted in the New York Times saying there is no urgency behind the approach to Sudan. My question is, Is it because the Us Department of State has Retained Sudan on its blacklist of “State Sponsors of Terrorist” Despite acknowledging the continuation of their “bilateral counter-terrorism relationships”..?

    Pliz! Pliz! Pliz! fellow friends give the crisis in Sudan the attention it deserves “BUT” let’s not be using Mr. Fox solagon that says” Thanks God mum gave birth to myself; although she couldnot bore any others kids, and I’m born I DON’T mind” ( Na ci ma ha dhieth, na cok be rool ka cin ke diene de” (in Dinka language translation)

    By Don-Don M. Rual and de Fox Solagon, but bear in mind we all know Mr. fox as cunning and selfish guys; we human beings should not copy his living styles Taa

    Reply
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