U.S. lifts economic sanctions against Sudan

The outgoing Obama administration on Friday lifted economic sanctions on Sudan. Analysts say ending sanctions could help boost Sudan’s economy but also could encourage more human rights violations.

Lifting sanctions will allow expanded U.S. trade and investment in Sudan and unfreeze Sudanese assets in the United States. U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said the United States began the process to lift sanctions six months ago, noting Sudan’s “significant progress” in improving security in the region. Toner said the United States would lift sanctions completely if Sudan continues to improve.

“The United States sees the progress made over the last six months as the beginning of a longer term process of addressing these critically important issues,” Toner said in a statement.

The United States imposed sanctions on Sudan in 1997 when the Sudanese government failed to end its deadly civil war with southern Sudan, which has since become its own country. The sanctions restricted foreign aid and business transactions and placed a ban on defense exports and sales. Sudan’s government has faced accusations of using chemical weapons on civilians and using child soldiers in the conflict. In the past two years, Sudan’s paramilitary force deployed in the Darfur region has faced accusations of rape and mass assaults against civilians.

Leslie Lefkow, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa division, said lifting some of the sanctions, like allowing the import of medical supplies, would benefit the Sudanese people. But the government continues to commit atrocities, she said, and lifting the sanctions could encourage more abuses.

“Lifting most sanctions sends an appalling message to Sudan and other repressive governments that whatever crimes you commit, however many of your citizens you kill, rape, and torture, all will be forgiven as long as you cooperate on counterterrorism,” Lefkow said.

Abdul-Khaliq Mahjoub, a Sudanese economic analyst, told China’s Xinhua news agency that releasing the country’s frozen assets could raise the value of the country’s foreign exchange market.

“The exports will also witness a great flourishing as a result of the arrival of Sudanese products to American and European markets, which used to be closed,” he said.

Ebrahim Deen, a researcher with the Afro-Middle East Center in South Africa, said removing sanctions from the oil industry could boost more trade. But he also warned about a spike in human rights violations: “From a democratic perspective, it doesn’t look good. I think it could allow more supplies to the culprits.”