The East African regional bloc IGAD called on Friday for the lifting of sanctions against Sudan and South Sudan as the two countries transition towards stability.
Sudan was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 by the United States, cutting it off from financial markets, over reports that Omar Bashir’s government was sponsoring terrorism.
The UN Security Council imposed sanctions against South Sudan due to more than five years of civil war. The sanctions include a ban on arms and trade in military technology, asset freezes and travel bans on eight individuals from within the government and militia groups who are reported to be destabilizing the world’s youngest nation.
In a communique at the end of the 13th ordinary meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, IGAD leaders called on the international community to “lift the crippling economic sanctions imposed on Sudan and South Sudan to enable them rebuild their economies.”
They also urged the parties to the revitalised peace deal in South Sudan to accomplish the pre-transitional tasks within the extended hundred days and form a unity government by the end of the extended period.
The regional leaders commended the government and people of Sudan for transitioning into civilian rule and for their resilience and determination, and endorsed the role of South Sudan in mediating the Sudanese peace talks in the capital Juba.
The 13th summit, which was expected to deliberate on several issues including the status of the exiled opposition leader Riek Machar, deferred other agendas to the next ordinary meeting to be held in Khartoum.
In today’s summit, representatives of IGAD member states elected Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok to take over as chairperson of the regional bloc for one year. The meeting also confirmed Ethiopian diplomat Workneh Gebeyehu as the new IGAD executive secretary.
IGAD is an eight-member economic bloc that brings together Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.
Newer articles:
- HUDO: South Sudan rebels 'collect taxes' in South Kordofan - 30/11/2019 12:13
- HIV campaign tackles sex taboos in S.Sudan - 30/11/2019 09:52
- UN reports accuse Abiy Ahmed of fanning instability in Somalia, S. Sudan - 30/11/2019 08:41
- Sudan’s Tarco Aviation Eyes West African Pilgrim Traffic - 29/11/2019 19:18
- South Sudan army general dismissed over treason charges - 29/11/2019 16:00
Older news items
- Refugees rebuild after devastating South Sudan floods - 28/11/2019 16:04
- South Sudan: Emergency appeal n° MDRSS009 - 28/11/2019 08:34
- ‘We are all traumatised’: an interview with South Sudan’s senior churchman - 28/11/2019 06:22
- Sudan and South Sudan extend oil exporting deal to 2022 - 28/11/2019 05:16
- South Sudan: Free Arbitrarily Detained Journalist - 28/11/2019 04:54
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan needs ‘civic education’ before elections, says bishop - 16/01/2025 16:42
- South Sudan parties set to resume peace talks in Kenya - 16/01/2025 16:39
- Abandoned but not forgotten – the invisible crisis in South Sudan - 16/01/2025 16:35
- The SAF has committed barbaric atrocities against South Sudanese refugees in Wad Medani - 16/01/2025 16:27
- Syria 2025: The historical Syrian project: From revolution to a modern inclusive civil state - 16/01/2025 16:10
Random articles (all categories):
- Death Announcement - Yor Kuon Ajak - 14/01/2012 09:19
- For the sake of our Children - 29/04/2007 20:03
- South Sudan: Buying off elites to stop fighting won’t work. Here’s what might - 12/03/2018 06:18
- South Sudan joins Global Network to launch Accelerator Lab and Human Development Report 2019 - 12/12/2019 00:42
- 10 die in South Sudan hospital due to fuel scarcity - 10/01/2016 08:28
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61792 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22309 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21498 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19065 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18830 times