This was an expected step after Sudan was removed from the US list of countries supporting terrorism last week. The United States Congress finally granted “sovereign immunity” to Khartoum this Monday, December 21, and voted for financial support for the country.
A last-minute text that was voted on Monday evening, December 21, by the two houses of the US Congress. It was added, along with other provisions, to the gigantic text at the end of this year’s Finance Act, which specifically includes a recovery plan to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
This law was made possible by tough negotiations this weekend between elected Democrats and the White House. The former wanted to protect legal proceedings for their constituents who were victims of 9/11, potentially targeted at Sudan. The White House, under pressure from the Israelis, wanted to normalize relations between Sudan and Israel as quickly as possible, clearly conditional on Khartoum granting his government legal immunity.
Significant stimulus plan
A compromise was therefore found. “Sovereign immunity” is in fact granted to the Sudanese Government for each new counter-terrorism procedure, but to exclude procedures already in place on 9/11. The $ 350 million that Sudan is placing in a block account for victims of attacks with Sudan can now be released. And another $ 150 million is being made available to naturalized African-American victims.
In return, the US provides relief of $ 111 million in Sudanese debt to its US creditors, $ 120 million in support of the payment of its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and $ 700 million in support. directly to its economy. An important stimulus package, which now only needs to sign the outgoing president Donald Trump.
► Read also: US withdraws Sudan from list of countries supporting terrorism
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