Sudan upbeat on prospects for removal from US terror list

WASHINGTON: Sudan’s top financial official believes it is “just a question of time” before his country is removed from the US terrorism list.

Finance Minister Ibrahim Elbadawi told an event hosted by the Atlantic Council think-tank 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.

Elbadawi said after the event he was “absolutely” encouraged by his discussions with US officials and lawmakers about getting Sudan removed from the terrorism list.

“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, US 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.”

ECONOMIC REFORM KEY 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 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.

Julian Reilly, UK envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, said it was imperative the government strike the right balance as it began to enact potentially difficult reforms.

“They have to address the historical challenges and they have to deliver the macroeconomic reforms and they cannot do that without ensuring that the necessary social safety net is in place so that the most vulnerable are protected from the potential shocks of that shift,” he said.

Elbadawi 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.

GOVT WOULD ASK 5-MILLIONSTRONG SUDANESE DIASPORA TO MAKE DEPOSITS AND SHORE UP THE CENTRAL BANK’S RESERVES