Bashir lambasts continuation of US sanctions on Sudan

April 27, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir condemned the continuation of economic sanctions imposed on his country by the United States despite the signing of multiple peace agreements.

Bashir who addressed the third Tanana Forum on Security in Africa held in Ethiopia’s Bahr Dar town, noted that Juba received $4.5 billion for development, while support was withheld from Khartoum despite all efforts it made to resolve problems and bring peace.

Washington imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. In 2007 it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it labeled as genocide.

Sudan is also on the US list of states that sponsor terrorism since 1993 even though the two countries have strengthened their counterterrorism cooperation since September 2001 attacks on Washington and New York.

Prior to South Sudan’s referendum on statehood in early 2011, Washington promised Khartoum to delist Sudan from terrorism-sponsoring states if it facilitates the vote and allows it to be conducted peacefully.

South Sudanese voted overwhelmingly in favor of creating their own state and Sudan was the first country to swiftly to recognize their new neighbor.

But conflicts that emerged later in Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile prompted the US to shy away from its earlier promises much to the frustration of Sudanese officials.

Bashir however underscored Sudan’s keenness to achieve peace and stability throughout the country despite the sanctions imposed on it .

The Sudanese president briefed the summit on his country’s experience in combating corruption through legal institutions , pointing out that there are special legal procedures to fight graft and prevent repatriation of embezzled funds abroad in the form of Unlawful Enrichment Act.

Bashir boasted that through these laws and institutions Sudan was able to fight and scale down corruption.

He explained in his speech that Sudan managed to maintain its resources especially oil claiming that the country suffered injustice by Chevron in 1975 which withheld information on oil from the government at the time.

The forum which was held under the banner of “Illicit financial flows and their impact on security in Africa” concluded its work on Sunday.

The state minister at the foreign ministry Kamal Ismail described the forum as a positive step that will strengthen the process of stability and development in Africa. He indicated that such meetings can contribute to the security in Africa through the solutions and proposals for these issues that were discussed.

Bashir has started a four-day private visit to Bahr Dar following the conclusion of the conference, state media reported.

(ST)