Obama congratulates Sudanese on Independence Day
December 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – US President Barack Obama on Wednesday congratulated the Sudanese people on the 60th anniversary of independence expressing hope that 2016 offers them an opportunity to enjoy a prosperous and peaceful future.
“On behalf of the American people, I’d like to congratulate you on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of your country’s independence,” said Obama in a message conveyed by the US embassy in Khartoum Wednesday.
It is noteworthy that this is the second time that president Obama congratulates the Sudanese people on the Independence Day following his last year’s message.
The US president usually tends to avoid addressing the Sudanese government or president Omer Hassan al-Bashir who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur region.
Relations between Khartoum and Washington are strained as the East African country is under US economic sanctions and branded as a terrorism sponsor.
Diplomats from the two countries failed during the past years to normalise the complicated relations.
Khartoum says the improvement of bilateral relations should not be linked to internal Sudanese issues, but Washington requires ending the conflicts in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Sudan’s foreign ministry Ali al-Sadiq said in a press release Wednesday that President Bashir received a congratulatory message from the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of independence.
(ST)