(Ecofin Agency) – Sudan: “the government has no mandate to normalize relations with Israel” (Prime Minister)
A possible normalization of relations between Israel and Sudan will wait until the end of the political transition in 2022, according to Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok. A failure for Mike Pompeo came to obtain an agreement in this direction.
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok (pictured) told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that his government does not have a mandate to normalize relations with Israel. No such decision will be taken until the end of the political transition in 2022, executive spokesman Faisal Saleh reported.
Less than two weeks after the recognition of Israel by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mike Pompeo’s visit to Khartoum on Tuesday, August 25, was the second stop on a Middle Eastern tour aimed at convincing more Arab countries to normalize their relations with the Hebrew state. On Monday, the US official said he was optimistic about seeing “Other Arab countries” follow the example of the UAE.
During the discussions, Abdallah Hamdok clarified that “ The transition phase in Sudan is led by a broad coalition with a specific agenda aiming to complete the transition process and establish peace and stability, until free elections in 2022. The transitional government has no mandate beyond these tasks to decide on normalization with Israel ”.
The Prime Minister also urged the United States to dissociate “The removal of Sudan from the list of states ‘sponsors of terrorism’ of the question of normalization of relations with Israel”. The head of American diplomacy was indeed also to discuss the exit of Sudan from this list.
Commenting on the meeting between the two sides, a US State Department official said ” that normalization with Israel would unlock immense economic opportunities and create jobs in Sudan ».
Sudan has never maintained diplomatic relations with Israel. Under the presidency of al-Bashir, the country even welcomed radical terrorists and Islamists of all stripes, including the famous Illich Sanchez Ramirez (Carlos) and Osama bin Laden.
Bahrain, the next stop on Mike Pompeo’s visit, has maintained contacts with Israel since the 1990s. The Kingdom was the first Gulf state to welcome the normalization of relations between the UAE and Israel.
Stephane Alidjinou
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