“Great news! Sudan’s new government, which is making great strides, has agreed to pay 33 5,335 million to U.S. terrorism victims and their families. Once deposited, I will remove Sudan from state sponsors of the terrorism list. Finally, justice for Americans. A big step for the people and Sudan! ”He tweeted.
Trump’s announcement comes months after the United States and Sudan reached a bilateral settlement. The tweet is welcome news for Sudanese officials as well as some American survivors and the families of those victims of the bombings, who have urged Congress to pass legislation so that it can be distributed. Others, however, oppose the settlement, which pays less for foreign nationals working at the embassy and for employees who became U.S. citizens after the attack.
Behind the scenes, the Trump administration is pushing for a change of government in Sudan, led by Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok, to normalize relations with Israel. Such a move would signal Trump’s foreign policy victory just weeks before the election.
The president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and a team of international negotiators from the White House and the State Department took responsibility for brokering the deal between Israel and several countries, including Sudan, Oman and Morocco, people said. Familiar with the discussions, and their efforts have so far resulted in two successful deals – with Bahrain and the UAE.
Senior Sudanese government sources told CNN that Hamdok needed to change his position before talks on normalization could proceed.
“During negotiations with the US, Prime Minister Hamdock insisted that the removal from the list would not be linked to normalization, as Sudan meets all the criteria for its removal. “Our priorities and generalizations are theirs,” a source said.
‘An important step forward in US-Sudan relations’
With the nation under a changeable government, Pompeo has supported listing Sudan with certain prerequisites.
“This is an opportunity that often does not come along. We all know the history of Sudan and the tragedy there,” Pompeo told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in late July. “There is not only a chance for democracy to start out, but also for regional opportunities to flow out. I believe that removing the state sponsor of terrorism positions from there, if we can take care of the victims of those tragedies, would be a good thing for American foreign policy. . “
The State Department declined to comment on Trump’s announcement on Monday, although a top U.S. diplomat in Khartoum congratulated the Sudanese government and its people on the news.
“This tweet and this instruction is a strong support for the transition to Sudanese democracy and to the Sudanese people,” he said. “As we seek to get rid of the heavy legacy of Sudan’s previous, worthless regime, I must reiterate that we are peace-loving people and have never supported terrorism.”
The role of Congress
Three aides to CNN told CNN that the administration has yet to inform Congress about the delisting. The notification marks a 45-day period in which Congress can override the decision, but it will require both the House and Senate to pass a veto-proof joint resolution of rejection.
Edith Bartley, a spokeswoman for some of the families of Americans killed in the embassy bombing, said in a statement on Monday that they welcomed the announcement.
“On behalf of the families of those killed in the 1998 bombing of the Nairobi Embassy, I would like to commend the long work of the diplomatic corps and the security of Sudan to compensate our diplomatic families for the new civilian rule in Sudan. For the act of terrorism,” He lost his father and brother.
“The escrow fund established by that agreement, once the victims are released, will fulfill a long-standing commitment made by President Bush before, will be honored by President Obama, and is now backed by President Trump, survivors and To normalize the situation of compensation to his family. “Those who were lost in terrorist acts. In doing so, we support the sacrifices of diplomats abroad, ”he said.
In his statement, Bartley also called on Congress to “immediately pass the legislation required for the implementation of the agreement, and to begin the process of payment. Congress will not allow this agreement to be a victim of legal impediment and dispute.”
Stuart Newburger, attorney for Crowell & Morning Representing the victims and their families, he told CNN that Congress must pass legislation because the agreement between Washington, Washington and Khartoum requires “Sudan to be acquitted in a federal court, primarily sponsored as a sponsor of terrorism. Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act.” “
“That is why the Congress has to get involved to call Sudha a ‘legal peace.’ The president cannot do it on his own; only the Congress can do this,” he said.
The settlement faces opposition from those who see it as unworthy and unworthy – it is the embassy staff who were present at the time of the attack. Were citizens, who then immigrated to the U.S. Have become citizens, and those who are still foreign citizens will be paid differently. . The families of some 9/11 victims also oppose the immunity given to Sudan under the deal, which they fear could jeopardize their own claims against the country.
“We want a resolution but many victims of the US embassy and one who betrays the most basic principles of American justice cannot accept that,” Doreen Opport, who works at the embassy in Nairobi and was injured in the attack, said in a statement Monday.
The story has been updated on Monday with additional developments.
CNN’s Vivian Salama, Neema Elbagir and Yasir Abdullah contributed to the report.
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