Trump Delays Decision on Permanently Lifting Sudan Sanctions

Local Editor

US President Donald Trump delayed a decision to permanently revoke sanctions on Sudan until October, saying he needed more time to review whether the government in Khartoum continues to demonstrate positive actions, according to a White House statement.

The order extends the deadline for interim sanctions relief until October 12.

"While the Government of Sudan has made some progress in areas identified in Executive Order 13761, I have decided that more time is needed for this review to establish that the Government of Sudan has demonstrated sufficient positive action across all of those areas," Trump said in his executive order released on Tuesday.

In one of his last acts in office, former US President Barack Obama in January ordered the sanctions lifted for six months, citing Sudan's "positive actions," including stemming conflict and combating terrorism.

The interim sanctions relief was due to expire on July 12.

Trump also revoked a section of Obama's executive order that required the secretary of state, in consultation with the Treasury, Director of National Intelligence and Administrator for the US Agency for International Development, to provide the president with a report each year on whether the government of Sudan had sustained the positive actions.

The sanctions were imposed against Sudan after the country was labeled a "sponsor of terrorism."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team