Sudan has paid the United States $335 million in compensation in return for Washington partially restoring Sudan’s sovereign immunity, the State Department announced on Wednesday.
The multi-million-dollar settlement is part of the deal Khartoum agreed to last year, which paved the way for the United States to remove Sudan from its state sponsors of terrorism list.
It will compensate victims from the 1998 Al Qaeda attacks on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the terrorist group's 2000 attack on the USS Cole and the 2008 assassination of a US aid worker in Khartoum. Sudan's former government under Omar Al Bashir harboured Al Qaeda members complicit in the attacks.
“Achieving compensation for these victims has been a top priority for the Department of State,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement announcing the settlement. “We hope this aids them in finding some resolution for the terrible tragedies that occurred.”
“We appreciate Sudan's constructive efforts over the past two years to work with us to resolve these long-outstanding claims. With this challenging process behind us, US-Sudan relations can start a new chapter.
He reiterated the US support for the civilian-led transitional government and said he looked forward to working towards improved relations between the two countries.
The Trump administration agreed to remove Sudan from the state sponsor of terror list last year – pending the settlement – at the same time Khartoum signed on to the Abraham Accord to establish ties with Israel.
As part of the agreement, the US Congress passed legislation in December to partially restore Sudan’s sovereign immunity, which the Biden administration enacted last week.
“Last week, the [State Department] transmitted to Congress the Secretary's certification restoring Sudan's sovereign immunities pursuant to Sudan Claims Resolution Act enacted last December,” said Mr Blinken.
Victims of the September 11 attacks and their families are still entitled to continue litigation against Sudan for harbouring Al Qaeda under Bashir.
Sudan’s removal from the terror blacklist also rendered it eligible for desperately needed foreign assistance from Washington.
The legislation authorised $700 million in foreign assistance for Sudan and committed Washington to paying off $231 million of Khartoum’s debt. Separately, the Trump administration announced $81 million in humanitarian assistance to Sudan in October after it agreed to normalise ties with Israel.
Six tips to secure your smart home
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
