Sudan will shutter the offices of Hamas and Hezbollah as part of its efforts to rebuild relations with the U.S. and get sanctions lifted. The government of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is expected to announce at some point the action against the two groups, both considered terrorist organizations by the U.S
Sudan will shutter the offices of Hamas and Hezbollah as part of its efforts to rebuild relations with the U.S. and get sanctions lifted.
The government of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is expected to announce at some point the action against the two groups, both considered terrorist organizations by the U.S, according to a source close to the government.
The move was first reported by the U.K.-based online news organization Middle East Eye and comes as Sudan’s interim civilian and military government works towards developing democracy in the East African country.
Renouncing support for terrorism organizations and taking steps to disrupt their operations is one of a number of steps Sudan’s recently inaugurated government is taking to satisfy requirements to be removed from U.S. designation of a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
Sudan shares the designation with three other countries – North Korea, Iran and Syria – and is therefore subject to crippling sanctions that are meant to isolate it from the international economy.
Hamdok was sworn in as Sudan’s new prime minister in August, following a grassroots and popular revolution that led to the overthrow of long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir, who is accused of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.
The closing of the Hamas and Hezbollah offices follows Hamdok’s trip to Washington earlier this month, where Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. is prepared to elevate relations with Sudan by exchanging ambassadors for the first time in over two decades.
But the office closures are likely largely symbolic, said Cameron Hudson, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Africa Center, given that Hamas and Hezbollah operations have been dormant in the country for years.
“The announcement that they are formally closing the offices suggests to me that they were essentially dormant, although not formally closed,” he said.
The Trump Administration partially lifted sanctions against Sudan in 2017. Hudson said that during that time the Bashir regime was asked to renounce support for Hezbollah and Hamas….
Trick_or_Treat says
I wonder what the resident pro-muslim terrorists in your Congress (Omar and Rashid) will have to say about that? AND, will some of your newspapers and TV News desks find it newsworthy enough to publish as being yet another positive triumph story, on account if the persistence of the Trump administration, above all the day’s very latest ‘he said, she said, he said, the whistleblower said’, bullshit details of the ongoing fraudulent impeachment campaign? Probably not.
observer says
How the hell can we believe them ?
Keys says
Only a fool would trust a muslim.
They are closing their offices only to work out of their homes, mosques, and lairs.
John says
Amen
Infidel says
Sudan should remain on the travel ban list: just b’cos the government looks like it wants to clean up its act (something like Gaddafi in 2004) doesn’t imply that the Sudanese people have changed their views. Also, them closing Hamas and Hizbullah offices are symbolic: Sudan is nowhere close to Israel and can’t launch attacks on them w/o Egypt’s approval: there is no way Cairo would want to provoke Israel into an attack that could permanently lose it the Sinai, as well as the eastern side of the Suez Canal.
I didn’t quite get the point about the persecution of Christians: that used to happen before South Sudan seceded from the Sudan in 2011. All those Christians are now in South Sudan, and what’s left of Sudan is now 97% Muslim. (Sudan did correctly what India failed to do: separate Muslims from Christians into 2 countries. Muslims are just 6% of South Sudan’s population.) What the US can do is ask Sudan to split the oilfields in the border w/ South Sudan, something both countries claim.
Other than that, it’s fine to restore diplomatic relations: right now, Sudan’s new government is less worse than the ones in Saudi Arabia, Qatar or Turkey – all of those countries ‘allies’ on paper.
Terry Gain says
All Muslim countries should be on a travel ban list. Deal with the world as it is.
Infidel says
+1000
Good way to do it is to roll it in, as opposed to all at once. Like after the Pensacola shootings, KSA should have been added. Let’s say someone from Kyrgyzstan pulls off a Jihadist attack somewhere: add Kyrgyzstan. Keep adding countries whenever any of their citizens commit a jihadist attack, until all 50 of them are there.
James Lincoln says
Terry Gain,
Agree, but I would take it a step further.
The default should be that ALL Muslims are BANNED from entry into the United States.
The only exception should be “official government business” – and they should be constantly surveilled by US law enforcement while in country.
After their “official government business” is completed, the Muslim should be promptly deported back to their country of origin.
And, as I have said before, all Muslims who can be legally deported from the United States should be deported.
Authentic, legitimate ex-Muslims are welcome on a case-by-case basis as long as they can add value to the fabric of the United States.
Terry Gain says
James Lincoln
I agree. Denying Muslims entry into the United States is the easiest way to defeat Islam’s goal of conquest without the bloodshed and devastation of a civil war.
gravenimage says
Agree, Terry and James.
roberta says
As long as CAIR has offices open in the USA hizballa and hamas have offices open in the USA.
Yes? 6 or a half dozen kinda thing.
gravenimage says
Sudan announces it will close offices of Hamas and Hizballah to get U.S. sanctions lifted
…………………
Sanctions are a good step.