US removes Sudan from terrorism state sponsors' list

The United States on Monday officially removed Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"The congressional notification period of 45 days has lapsed and the Secretary of the State signed a notification stating rescission of Sudan's state sponsor of terrorism designation is effective as of today (Dec 14), to be published in the Federal Register," the US embassy in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, wrote in its official Facebook account.

The news was received warmly by Sudanese who had eagerly been waiting for lifting of the state sponsors of terrorism designation that was imposed 27 years ago.

"Congratulations to people to win again the inclusion in world economy, relations, prosperity for all the whole country, because peaceful relation with other countries is vital for development of any nation, Sudan is no longer an island for hatred and religious extremism, Sudan deserves a better future," Malek Nyuat commented on the US embassy post.

In October, outgoing US President Donald Trump announced that the US was prepared to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The announcement followed Sudan's agreement to pay $335 million in compensation to the families of victims of the 1998 bombing in the US embassies in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, where more than 200 people were killed.

The attacks were linked to Al-Qaeda, a militant Sunni Islamist multi-national organization founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden.

The delisting is good news for the east African country as it's expected to improve investor confidence with the country, allow the US to support debt relief for the country and remove banking relationship barriers.

Sudan was placed on the list in 1993 for hosting Osama bin Laden for almost five years after being involved in attacks in the United States.