Sudan's Delisting From Terror State List Will Be Favourable To Its Economy -- Sudan Foreign Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 15 (Bernama) --  The delisting of Sudan from the United States’ State Sponsors of Terrorism List (SSTL) Monday will provide a favourable environment to support the country’s economy through more effective tools and measures as well as its reintegration into the world financial system, said Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It said in a statement that the move will also pave the way for the long-deserved return of Sudan to the international scene. “The delisting of Sudan from the SSTL will assist Sudan in addressing its international debt of over US$60 billion and benefiting from the instruments leading to debt relief, and opens the country to investment. “It will also remove the last constraints and allow the free movement of capital into and from Sudan through legitimate channels, as well as allow access to the modern technologies which Sudan was deprived of for many years,” the statement by the ministry’s department of press and spokesperson said. The statement was made available to Bernama by Sudan's Embassy in Malaysia.  The ministry added the delisting is also expected to lead to the rehabilitation of the country’s infrastructure and its vital institutions such as the national airlines, shipping lines, and railways, as well as increased investment in Sudan’s rich agricultural and mining sectors. The ministry said it welcomes the delisting, adding that it “crowns” the Transitional Government’s efforts following the signing of the Constitutional Document in August 2019 to establish a peaceful transition to democracy in Sudan. “This was consolidated by the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement, as well as through the extensive reforms of the legal system to ensure civil rights and freedoms, and the protection of human rights,” it said, adding that the delisting follows the recent removal of Sudan from the US State Department list of Countries of Concern regarding Freedom of Religion. The ministry also extends its gratitude to sisterly and friendly nations, to Sudan’s partners, regional and international organisations for their combined efforts and advocacy on Sudan’s behalf with the US administration to lift Sudan from the SSTL. The US listed Sudan as one of the countries sponsoring terrorism in 1993 for hosting the leader of Al-Qaeda, international media reported. In October, US President Donald Trump said he would remove Sudan from the list after Sudan paid US$335 million to American terror victims and families following Al-Qaeda attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. -- BERNAMA