Sudan’s military hire lobbyist to reset relations with U.S. post-coup
February 23, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s military rulers have hired an American firm to repair relations with the Biden administration and Congress as Washington mulls punitive measures against them following the coup last October.
According to the filing on the U.S. Department of Justice website, the agreement signed this month between Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and the Sudanese Government, the former will advise and assist Sudanese diplomatic activities in the US.
“It would also be a priority to facilitate foreign aid and investments in Sudan,” the agreement reads.
The deal further leaves the door ajar for additional projects in the future including “accompanying Sudanese government officials in meetings with appropriate members of the Executive and Legislative Branches of the U.S. Government. as well as influencers in the private and non-profit sectors”.
The Sudanese side in the lobbying deal was represented by the Commissioner for Social Safety, Solidarity, and Poverty Reduction (CSSSP) Ezzadean Elsafi.
Elsafi who is from East Darfur was appointed as CSSSPR head by former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok two years ago.
The lobbying work is being managed by former Congressman Jim Moran, a Virginia Democrat.
{Sudan Tribune} understands that Elsafi is close to the Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti”. Both hail from the Rizeiggat tribe.
The Sudanese government will pay the lobbyist a monthly retainer fee of $30,000 payable every three months.
The Sudanese military leaders seek to release $700 million financial assistance package that Washington suspended after the October coup.
They also fear the imposition of targeted sanctions against Sudanese military figures and against military-affiliated companies.
US congress has introduced two resolutions that aim to force the Biden administration to impose sanctions against the top military brass while also condemning the coup.
Both resolutions enjoy almost unanimous bipartisan support and senators vowed this month to push it forward for enactment.
The chairman of the Sudan Transitional Sovereignty Council Abdel-Fatah al-Burhan has downplayed the proposed sanctions and called them unhelpful.
(ST)