Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.
President Joe Biden has issued an executive order imposing sanctions on Sudan, in response to the military takeover in October 2021 and the recent outbreak of inter-service fighting in April 2023. The move comes as the violence in Sudan continues to escalate, with hundreds of civilians killed and the situation described as a “tragedy” and “betrayal of the Sudanese people’s clear demand for civilian government and a transition to democracy” by President Biden.
In a letter to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, President Biden stated that the situation in Sudan constituted an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The new executive order expands the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067 of November 3, 1997, and is aimed at supporting a transition to democracy and civilian transitional government in Sudan, protecting it from those who would prevent its initial formation through violence and other methods, and, once formed, protecting it from those who would undermine it.
Through the executive order, President Biden is imposing sanctions on persons determined to have engaged or attempted to engage in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan. The order also sanctions actions or policies that undermine the formation or operation of a civilian transitional government, Sudan’s transition to democracy, or a future democratically elected government; actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in Sudan; censorship or other actions or policies that limit the exercise of freedoms of expression, association, or peaceful assembly; corruption; serious human rights abuse; the targeting of women, children, or any other civilians; the obstruction of the activities of United Nations missions; and attacks against United Nations missions.
The United States has facilitated the safe departure of thousands of people, including Americans, by land, sea, and air and conducted intensive negotiations to de-escalate violence. The U.S. continues to urge all parties to end the military conflict and allow unhindered humanitarian access, and stands ready to support enhanced humanitarian assistance when conditions allow. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to Twitter to announce the executive order, which aims to end the conflict, promote accountability for those who threaten Sudan’s security and stability, and support the country’s democratic aspirations.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to Twitter on Thursday to comment on the sanctions on Sudan in response to the ongoing violence in the country. The move, he said, aims to end the conflict, promote accountability for those who threaten Sudan’s security and stability, and support the country’s democratic aspirations.
Sudan has been rocked by political upheaval in recent years, including a military coup in October 2021 and the outbreak of inter-service fighting in April 2023. The executive order is a strong signal of the United States’ commitment to supporting the Sudanese people’s demands for a transition to democracy and civilian government, and to hold accountable those who threaten peace and stability in the region.