بلومبيرج: في انتظار القرار النهائي لتيلرسون: كبار المساعدين يؤيدون رفع الحظر عن النظام

Quote: Sudan is on the cusp of ending its long status as a pariah in Washington, and the African nation is bolstering its stable of lobbyists to ensure that it happens soon. The government of President Umar al-Bashir -- which is listed by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terrorism -- has hired Washington law firm Squire Patton Boggs LLP at a cost of $40,000 a month to lobby on its behalf as part of its accelerating campaign to ensure that President Donald Trump permanently lifts sanctions against the country ahead of a deadline next month, according to a filing with the Justice Department. Under an executive order signed by President Barack Obama in January, a temporary easing of sanctions against Sudan would be made permanent after six months if Khartoum sustains progress in five key areas, including helping the U.S. in the fight against terror, allowing humanitarian access and easing conflict throughout the country. That would allow fresh investment into an oil-exporting nation that remains one of the world’s poorest. “That would open a door to heaven between the two countries,” Maowia Osman Khalid, Sudan’s ambassador to the U.S., said in an interview. "I can assure you too that many major U.S. companies are knocking on the door right now. They are just waiting for the report in July.”

Quote: Shaking Hands Other signs that the two sides are warming to each other have emerged recently. Sudanese newspapers reported in March that the head of the country’s intelligence service visited Washington on the invitation of Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo, meeting with him and then-FBI director James Comey. The CIA declined to comment when asked to confirm the visit. Trump and Tillerson shook hands with General Taha al-Hussein -- a top aide to Bashir who has since been removed from his post, according to the Sudan Tribune -- during Trump’s visit with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia last month. In past administrations, staff would have ensured that such an encounter never took place. Because of the charges he faces, Bashir was dissuaded from coming to the event. Asked about the handshake, a State Department official said there had been no scheduled meeting between Tillerson and al-Hussein, and the interaction was “entirely spontaneous in the context of the summit.” Sudanese officials later circulated photographs of the two handshakes in an apparent effort to demonstrate how ties were improving. It will take more than an easing of U.S. sanctions to provide a big boost to Sudan’s economy. The country was ranked 168th of 190 nations surveyed on the ease of doing business in the World Bank’s annual “Doing Business” report, lagging behind countries including Zimbabwe and Madagascar

Quote: Khalid, Sudan’s ambassador, said the decision to include Sudan on the travel ban list was “understandable” and the government is “exerting extreme effort” to meet its requirements. “We are doing good in this regard,” he said.

Quote: بالله دي حكومة دي تدفع من مال الفقراء في السودان 40 الف دولار شهرياً لمحامي واحد غير الرشاوي الطائلة للوبيات الكونغرس مش كان في كم طريق أسهل من كدا عشان الحكومة تجنب شعبها ويلات القرارات دي حكومة لا تستحي لأجل مصالح طغمتها أن تفعل كل شيء وضحايا الكوليرا مبلغ أبسط من كدا كتير كان وفر ليهم موية نضيفة وعلاج سريع ومجاني