Sudan’s US embassy lacks bank; Washington helps

WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (AFP) — A US official said Washington was doing what it could to help Sudan’s Washington embassy, which is closed for lack of a bank account.

“We have been working with the Department of Treasury and foreign embassies, including the embassy of Sudan, to facilitate their access to banking services,” deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.

Ereli said “we categorically reject” rumors that the United States sought to embarrass Sudan, a country whose relations with Washington have been shaky.

“I would say we are very actively engaged on this. It’s important to us,” he said.

Sudan’s foreign affairs ministry said Wednesday that its Washington embassy had been closed since Monday for an undetermined period because it could not find a bank to open an account.

The closure did not imply a break in relations between the two countries, Khartoum said, adding that the United States had intervened with local banks without avail, as the host country, which, it said, has the responsibility to facilitate the work of the missions.

Ereli said that a recent US Senate investigation into banking irregularities, at Riggs Bank in Washington and several foreign countries such as Chile and Equatorial Guinea, could have hindered the embassy’s business.

“I think there’s a connection,” he said.