U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Prescott Regional Airport in Arizona, U.S., October 19, 2020. /Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced that an agreement had been reached with Sudan to pay American victims of terrorism.
He added that once the money, about 335 million U.S. dollars, had been paid, Khartoum would be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
"GREAT news! New government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335 MILLION to U.S. terror victims and families," Trump tweeted.
"At long last, JUSTICE for the American people and BIG step for Sudan!"
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok thanked Trump and said his country was looking forward to the removal from the list.
"Thank you so much, President Trump! We very much look forward to your official notification to Congress rescinding the designation of Sudan as a state-sponsor of terrorism, which has cost Sudan too much."
He added that Sudan's removal from the list will open the door for the African country to get relief of its external debt worth 60 billion U.S. dollars.
Screenshot from Trump's Twitter account. /CGTN
Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on Monday also welcomed the plan.
"I would like to express my great appreciation and that of the Sudanese nation to President Donald Trump and the American Administration for taking this constructive step to remove Sudan's name from the list of states sponsors of terrorism," said Al-Burhan in a statement issued by the sovereign council.
The U.S. government added Sudan to its list of state sponsors of "terrorism" in 1993 over allegations that al-Bashir's government was supporting "terrorist" groups. The designation makes Sudan technically ineligible for debt relief and urgently needed financing from major international institutions.
The U.S. Congress would need to approve the removal after being formally notified by the president.