Trump to remove Sudan from the state sponsors of terrorism list after 3 decades. Behind the scenes:
-tense negotiations over pressuring Sudan to recognize Israel
-State Dept diplomats largely cut out of talks
-NSC officials expected to travel to Sudan soon https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/10/19/trump-remove-sudan-terrorist-list-israel-pressure/
Ultimately, a deal was struck this weekend where US announces lifting of State sponsor of terrorism designation, then Sudan will follow as soon as this week announcing steps to normalize ties with Israel
Since it's such an uphill battle for Sudan, the US offered a raft of other deal sweeteners that should play out in coming weeks: additional humanitarian assistance, a US trade and investment conference for Sudan led by Development Finance Corp....
pledge to expedite talks with World Bank and IMF on restructuring Sudan's ballooning national debt, clearing its over $3 billion in arrears, allocations in next US federal budget for US debt relief of up to $300 million, removing Sudan from Trump admin's travel ban list
Key outstanding question is what's known as 'legal peace': Sudan still has outstanding legal battles in US courts over its former regime's role in terrorist attacks carried out by bin Laden & al Qaeda, courts determined attacks orchestrated with former Sudanese regime's support
Many but not all all families of terrorist attack victims support this current deal. And now families of victims of 9-11 attacks want their day in court to determine whether Sudan bears any responsibility for those attacks (privately US officials skeptical as evidence scant)
Negotiations among victim groups & Congress, Sudan govt still ongoing. Without Congress granting Sudan "legal peace" to absolve Sudan from court claims, lawyer representing these victims can stand by to seize Sudanese assets in US, creating chilling effect for foreign investment
Still, Sudan being lifted from State sponsor of terrorism list a big deal that clears way for international investment and relief packages from IMF, World Bank, and does open door to int'l investment. It's also a sorely-needed political win for the country's post-revolution govt
This deal highlights how Israel / Middle East priorities overrode Sudan policies and how shut out most of the State Department was from these deliberations, led mostly by WH/NSC.
On the Israeli side of the deal, @BarakRavid has more details here: https://twitter.com/BarakRavid/status/1318266383365476354?s=20
You can follow @RobbieGramer.
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