USA imposes visa restrictions on individuals undermining Sudan’s civilian government
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The United States Thursday threatened to impose a travel ban on supporters and officials of deposed President Omar Bashir undermining the work and activities of the civilian-led transitional government.
A state department press statement said the US continued to stand with the people of Sudan and the aspirations of the revolution that ousted former President Bashir in April 2019.
“We support the civilian-led transitional government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdouk, who took office in September 2019. We strongly believe that Sudan’s Constitutional Declaration provides the best roadmap to begin the transition to a just, equitable, and democratic society.
“Unfortunately, former Bashir-era officials and others continue to undermine Sudan’s nascent democracy,” the release by the Secretary of State Michael Pompeo stressed.
It said the American secretary of state was now implementing visa restrictions under the Immigration and Nationality Act Section 212(a) (3) (C) on individuals residing both inside and outside Sudan who are believed to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged, directly or indirectly, in undermining Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government’s efforts to implement the July 17, 2019, Political Agreement and August 17, 2019, Constitutional Declaration.
“This would include obstructing the work of civilian ministers, stalling implementation of provisions of the Constitutional Declaration, delaying preparations for drafting a new constitution and preparing for elections in 2022, and engaging in corruption or the abuse or violation of human rights in Sudan, which would weaken the authority of the civilian-led transitional government. Such visa restrictions could include the immediate family members of these individuals,” the release explained.
It added that this decision reflected the Department of State’s commitment to work with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdouk and the civilian-led transitional government, civil society, and others in their efforts to deliver the ultimate goal of the Sudanese people: “Freedom, peace, and justice”.
The list of these individuals is not publicly available; however, any application they may submit for travel to the United States will be adjudicated according to established guidelines.
“The United States remains a steadfast supporter of Sudan’s peaceful, democratic transition,” it concluded.
-0- PANA MO/RA 13Aug2020
