US renews Sudan sanctions

The President of the United States, Barack Obama, issued a letter informing his decision to renew sanctions against Sudan as of 3 November. According to the statement, the crisis constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Sudan that led to the first declaration of a national emergency in 1997 has not been resolved.The statement reads that these actions and policies are hostile to U.S. interests and continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, the president has determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared with respect to Sudan and maintain in force the sanctions against Sudan to respond to this threat. Politically motivated The Government of Sudan condemned this decision, which it claimed to be ‘politically motivated’.   In addition, the Sudanese foreign ministry stated the US intends to ‘harm the vital interests of the people of Sudan by blocking its aspirations in development and impeding steps to promote peace’.