US diplomat criticised for saying “change” in Sudan may improve relations

August 27, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) strongly reacted to statements by the US chargé d’affaires for saying “political change” would help to improve bilateral relations between Khartoum and Washington.

Joseph D. Stafford, head of the US embassy in Sudan was engulfed in criticism on Sunday by the ruling National Congress Party for stating that a political change in Khartoum might facilitate the normalisation process of bilateral relations with Khartoum.

The American diplomat was speaking in an interview with the Arabic language Al-Sudani newspaper where he was keen to say that Washington could not impose a certain government on the Sudanese people and respects its decisions taken through the ballot box.

However, NCP spokesperson Badr El-Din Ahmed Ibrahim rejected Stafford’s statements and recalled that bilateral relations between Khartoum and Washington are governed by the UN charter and international laws.

“If (the United States of) America is not interested to establish a dialogue with the Sudanese government until its change, so America should wait and conduct a dialogue with the next government,” he emphasised .

The NCP official went further to say that Washington has effectively sought, “as it is proven by reports about its support to different organisations and groups,” to raise domestic unrest and disturbances.

“And this means clearly that the U.S. government is against the will of the Sudanese people, who elected this government” he added.

Badr El-Din was alluding to recent reports about the funding of Sudanese civil society groups by a foundation close to the US Department of State.

Sudan witnessed during June and July limited protests but the government accused “foreign hands” and rebel groups of manipulating youth and students to organise protests following the removal of oil subsidies.

Sudan also accuses the United Sates of maintaining unjust sanctions against the country despite the different pledges made in the past.

In his interview the chargé d’affaires was keen to highlight his government’s keenness for dialogue with Khartoum to improve the strained relations.

Strafford also admitted the impact of activists and lobby groups but added that the US administration takes its decision according to the national interests.

Earlier this month US special envoy Princeton Lyman called on the Sudanese government to resume talks on bilateral talks. But Sudanese presidential assistant Nafie Ali Nafie said Washington is only interested to discuss its concerns and dors not pay any attention to Sudan’s interests.

(ST)