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Sudan Tribune

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Director of USAID to visit Khartoum in February: ambassador

January 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Gayle E. Smith would visit Khartoum next month, said Sudan’s ambassador to Washington Omer Dahab.

Gayle Smith, the new administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. (Photo Ellie Van Houtte/USAID)
Gayle Smith, the new administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. (Photo Ellie Van Houtte/USAID)
Dahab pointed out that he discussed with Sudan’s minister for international cooperation Kamal Hassan Ali arrangements for the visit of the US official next month.

He said that Sudan’s consulate in New York has already begun arrangements for the visit, stressing that a detailed program including meetings with various officials and bodies would be put in place.

The Sudanese diplomat noted the American official would visit Khartoum to participate in the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Dahab pointed that the UNDP has played important role in Sudan, saying it would carry out all development tasks in Darfur following the exit of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

He added that officials at the UNDP headquarters in New York have discussed with him positive points and ideas that could be utilized in the coming period.

For his part, Ali said that a number of US companies have expressed desire to invest in several development areas in Sudan, saying his ministry seeks to engage in dialogue with all donors and investors to achieve development goals.

Washington imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. In 2007 it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it labelled as genocide.

Also, Sudan was placed on the US terrorism list in 1993 over allegations it was harbouring Islamist militants working against regional and international targets.

(ST)

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