Sudan: There is now a memorial in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to the victims of the attack. Source/BBC
US to lift terror ban on Sudan on $335m fine payment confirmation
Although the Government of Sudan said it has paid the compensation fine of $335m to victims’ families, the United States said it has not received the payment. US President Donald Trump said the war-torn country will come off the list of state sponsors of terror if there is a confirmation of payment of the compensation £259m.
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok responded by saying the funds had been transferred but there was no immediate US confirmation.
Sudan has been listed since 1993 when al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden lived there as a guest of the government. The compensation relates to al-Qaeda’s 1998 bombing of US embassies in Africa.
The attacks in Tanzania and Kenya killed more than 220 people and the compensation money is to be paid to “US terror victims and families”, Mr Trump said.
Relations between the US and Sudan have improved since President Omar al-Bashir was ousted after mass street protests last year. Mr Bashir had ruled the conflict-ridden African nation for 30 years.
Dropping Sudan from the blacklist will be very welcome news in the country, where food, fuel and medicine are getting more expensive and scarcer, BBC Africa senior correspondent Anne Soy reports.
In a tweet, Donald Trump wrote: “GREAT news! New government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335 MILLION to U.S. terror victims and families.
“Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. At long last, JUSTICE for the American people and BIG step for Sudan!”
The US president has the power to remove a nation from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. Congress then has 45 days to object.
Sudan is currently one of four countries – along with Iran, North Korea and Syria – on the blacklist.
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