By : WSJ
Sudan’s democrats are fighting for reform, and the U.S. should help.
There isn’t much good news in the world these days, but a potential bright spot is Sudan. The U.S. has a chance to pull the northeast African nation closer to the West if it doesn’t blow the moment.
The opening comes from the fall last year of Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled for 30 years and turned Sudan into a pariah state. Mass protests led to his arrest last year, and a transitional government has taken power. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is a respected technocrat, and a Sovereign Council includes civilians and military officials. The government says elections will come in 2022.
Problematic figures have retained some power, but Mr. Hamdok has broken an infamous security service and repealed restrictive Islamic laws. The press and broader civil society have more space to operate. Mr. Hamdok survived an assassination attempt by Islamic militants this year, and the generals who ousted Mr. Bashir aren’t committed democrats.
Enter the U.S., which can help shore up Mr. Hamdok’s position. Mr. Bashir gave refuge to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in the 1990s, and Sudan earned a state sponsor of terrorism designation in 1993. After more than 200 people died during an attack on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, Sudan became even more isolated. Mr. Bashir’s ouster has created an opportunity to overhaul the relationship.
The State Department has negotiated a settlement with Sudan that would provide some $335 million in compensation for victims of the embassy attacks in exchange for removing the country’s terror designation. Congress needs to approve the deal, which would give the country immunity from future terrorism-related lawsuits. “This is an opportunity that doesn’t come along often,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said recently. “There’s a chance not only for democracy, but perhaps regional opportunities.” Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt support the deal and would benefit from a more stable region.
There isn’t much good news in the world these days, but a potential bright spot is Sudan. The U.S. has a chance to pull the northeast African nation closer to the West if it doesn’t blow the moment.
The opening comes from the fall last year of Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled for 30 years and turned Sudan into a pariah state. Mass protests led to his arrest last year, and a transitional government has taken power. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is a respected technocrat, and a Sovereign Council includes civilians…
