Sudan upbeat on prospects for removal from U.S.
terrorism list
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[October 23, 2019] By
Andrea Shalal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sudan's top
financial official said on Tuesday he believed it was "just a question
of time" before his country was removed from the U.S. state-sponsored
terrorism list.
Finance Minister Ibrahim Elbadawi told an event hosted by the Atlantic
Council think tank that the listing posed a "crippling impediment" to
the transitional government's ability to access funds from the
International Monetary Fund or the World Bank.
But he said the government was working to address security concerns,
while taking steps to boost internal revenues by closing tax loopholes
and unwinding a big shadow economy.
Shortages of bread, fuel and medicine coupled with hefty price rises
sparked protests that led to the toppling of Sudan's longtime ruler,
Omar al-Bashir, in April, sending the economy into turmoil. The new
government took office six weeks ago.
Elbadawi told Reuters after the event he was "absolutely" encouraged by
his discussions with U.S. officials and lawmakers about getting Sudan
removed from the terrorism list.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Oct/23/images/ads/current/lincolntheatre_sda_031016.png)
"I could feel that things are moving," he said. "I could not give a
specific date, but I'm quite confident that it's just a question of
time."
Donald Booth, U.S. envoy to Sudan, gave no timetable, adding: "We want
to make sure that what we see as a problem isn't continuing, and it
depends on how long it takes for them to do that."
Elbadawi mapped out plans to restructure Sudan's budget and tackle
inflation, but leave bread and petrol subsidies in place until at least
June 2020. He said the goal was to replace those subsidies - which
largely benefit residents in Khartoum - with direct cash transfers to
those most in need.
To smooth the transition, the government was also working to strengthen
public transit in the city.
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![](../images/102319PIX/busine19.jpg)
Sudanese civilians wave their national flags during celebrations of
the signing of the Sudan's power sharing deal, that paves the way
for a transitional government, and eventually elections, following
the overthrow of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum, Sudan,
August 17, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
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He said the government would also ask the 5-million-strong Sudanese diaspora to
make deposits and shore up the central bank's reserves - an effort he said could
generate $500 million. In the future, it could issue special diaspora investment
bonds.
The U.S. State Department on Monday chaired the fourth meeting of the "Friends
of Sudan" group, which includes officials from Egypt, France, Germany, Saudi
Arabia, Norway, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, the African Union, the
European Union, the United Nations, the African Development Bank, the IMF and
World Bank.
The group said it was backing the transitional government's plans and could hold
a donors' conference in spring 2020.
Elbadawi said Sudan's debt was around $62 billion, but the new government had
asked the World Bank and African Development Bank to help reach a more precise
assessment.
He said the country had about $3 billion in arrears with international financial
institutions.
China had been and would remain an important creditor, but Sudan was keen to
"broaden the base of our partnership, notably with the United States," he said.
(The story corrects name of city in paragraph eight to Khartoum)
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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