US official to visit Sudan soon for talks on bilateral ties

February 14, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Obama administration will dispatch an official to Khartoum soon for discussions on bilateral ties, a government source told Sudan Tribune.

The United States (US) official, who was not identified, is linked to the issue of debt relief and is scheduled to arrive within 10 days.

Yesterday, the US President sent to Congress his 2013 budget proposal which included debt cancellation for Sudan to the amount of $2.4 billion.

However, the final decision will be contingent on Sudan making progress on post secession talks with the South and resolving separate conflicts in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Khartoum will also have to satisfy congressional requirements on terrorism and human rights.

After losing the oil rich south, Khartoum is faced with the costs of servicing the country’s massive external debt which is estimated to be close to $38 billion. Discussions with Juba on splitting this burden are still in its early stages.

Sudan’s foreign minister told reporters in Paris last September that his government incurs $1 billion in debt servicing fees which threatens to push the economy into collapse.

(ST)