Renewal of US sanctions threatens peace – Sudan

October 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The renewal of U.S. economic sanctions against Sudan does not support the peace process or stability in Sudan, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

US President Barack Obama yesterday renewed U.S. sanctions imposed on Sudan since 1997 in order to have leverage on Khartoum and keeping up pressure to ensure the implementation the CAP implementation and Darfur resolution.

Muawiya Osman Khalid, the spokesperson of the foreign ministry said the decision was expected but regrettable. He further said it would not contribute to support the peace process and stability in Sudan, but on the contrary, it threatens the peace and stability.

“The U.S. Administration recently announced what it called a strategy toward Sudan. It had the opportunity to prove honesty and political will to implement its objectives not to renew the sanctions on Sudan,” he further said.

The renewed sanctions restrict U.S. trade and investment in Sudan, freeze the Sudanese governmental assets in America, and ban all forms of transactions with individuals and entities associated with the crisis in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

Besides the economic sanctions, Washington also includes Sudan in its list of countries sponsoring terrorism and bans travel of a number of Sudanese officials.

The US has in recent months softened its tone with Sudan and suggested that it may move to ease sanctions imposed.

The special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration has called for “unwinding” some of the sanctions and lifting Sudan off the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

However, he later reversed position saying he supports sanctions while making exceptions for humanitarian reasons.

(ST)