Sudan summons U.S. envoy over visa denial to government officials
April 26, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government Tuesday has protested to the US government against the refusal of visa to senior officials, preventing them from attending activities related to the UN and other international institutions .
The Sudanese foreign ministry said that Hamid asked to provide a clarification about this repeated denial of visa to the government ministers and officials.
Last week, Sudan’s Ambassador to United Nations disclosed that Washington had refused to grant a visa to the Sudanese Interior Minister Ismat Abdel-Rahman to take part in a UN meeting on illegal drugs.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour condemned the visa denial for the interior minister and disclosed that the American Administration had denied visas to the minister of the education and the state minister of health.
Hamid asked to clarify whether the delay or denial of visa to Sudanese officials reflects a new policy toward Sudan, “We are waiting for the definitive response from the U.S. administration” the foreign ministry said.
In September 2013, the foreign ministry summoned the American chargé d’affaires to protest the denial of visa to the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir who wanted to attend the UN general assembly meetings.
According to the foreign ministry, the American diplomat promised to convey the protests to his government and denied that his country had a decision to refuse granting visa to Sudanese officials.
Moeling attributed the refusals to bureaucratic obstacles, and advised to apply for the visa a month before travelling to avoid any delay, the statement said.
Different Sudanese officials are subjected to U.S. sanctions and the visa clearance process requires to consult different services before to issue it.
(ST)