27 years ago, the US declared Sudan a state sponsor of terrorism, ushering in a raft of sanctions and strict controls to limit a range of nefarious activity by the regime of then-president Omar Al Bashir. On Monday, America removed Sudan from the list, which now includes only Iran, Syria and North Korea.
For three decades, Sudan's people suffered from paranoid and incompetent politics. This blighted the country's economy and global reputation, and bottled up the immense potential and goodwill of Sudanese citizens.
A popular protest movement demanding better government and living standards saw Al Bashir step down in April 2019, heralding a turnaround in Sudan's fortunes. Since then, the country, which is governed by a joint civilian and military executive, has taken steps to end its isolation. These include paying compensation to the victims of terrorist attacks carried out by Al Qaeda, an organisation Al Bashir's government supported. Now removed from the US State Department's list and free from the sanctions it entails, Khartoum can start looking to the future.
Sudan's ousted president Omar Al Bashir at his trial in Khartoum over the 1989 military coup that brought him to power. Reuters
Sudan's promising progress demonstrates the benefits open to countries when they re-enter the international fold
Sudan's transition to stability will not be immediate. There have been a series of clashes between security forces and protesters, and the economy continues to struggle. However, recent history shows that a complete retreat of security forces in the aftermath of popular protests can have even more serious consequences. And despite tragic moments, the country's revolution has been more stable than in other parts of the region, including Syria and Libya.
Khartoum's stability matters in both Africa and the Middle East. It shares large and, in some places, porous borders with Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia. Tensions among these countries have flared this year due to a new civil war in Ethiopia, as well as Addis Ababa's plans for the Renaissance Dam on the Nile.
Sudan's burgeoning relationship with states like the US and Israel will change its position in the diplomatic and security landscape of the region, but the country needs economic relationships, too. The vulnerability of its economy – which has been affected this year by locust plagues, the pandemic and pre-existing issues like widespread poverty – leaves the country open to more challenges, including high unemployment, protests and internal discontent. This is a real prospect, given the International Monetary Fund's prediction that Sudan's GDP will shrink by 8.5 per cent this year. The UAE announced a $1.5 billion grant to support the country in 2019, a critical lifeline at a critical time.
In the long term, however, the country will need to be able to support itself. The removal of US sanctions allows Sudanese people to build a private sector and engage with international markets on its own terms. A banking system can begin to emerge. A September report from the UN Development Programme found that roughly $3bn in remittances enter the country through unofficial means. If these were re-routed through a responsible banking sector, the resulting tax revenues would be significant.
Sudan's early, but promising, progress demonstrates the myriad benefits open to countries when they re-enter the international fold. If managed correctly, Sudan's transition to an open nation can stand out as an alternative for the pariahs that remain sponsors of extremism. And more importantly, it can forge a path forward for the people of a country that has much to offer the world.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Who are the Sacklers?
The Sackler family is a transatlantic dynasty that owns Purdue Pharma, which manufactures and markets OxyContin, one of the drugs at the centre of America's opioids crisis. The family is well known for their generous philanthropy towards the world's top cultural institutions, including Guggenheim Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate in Britain, Yale University and the Serpentine Gallery, to name a few. Two branches of the family control Purdue Pharma.
Isaac Sackler and Sophie Greenberg were Jewish immigrants who arrived in New York before the First World War. They had three sons. The first, Arthur, died before OxyContin was invented. The second, Mortimer, who died aged 93 in 2010, was a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma. The third, Raymond, died aged 97 in 2017 and was also a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma.
It was Arthur, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketeer, who started the family business dynasty. He and his brothers bought a small company called Purdue Frederick; among their first products were laxatives and prescription earwax remover.
Arthur's branch of the family has not been involved in Purdue for many years and his daughter, Elizabeth, has spoken out against it, saying the company's role in America's drugs crisis is "morally abhorrent".
The lawsuits that were brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachussetts named eight Sacklers. This includes Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, who are all the children of either Mortimer or Raymond. Then there's Theresa Sackler, who is Mortimer senior's widow; Beverly, Raymond's widow; and David Sackler, Raymond's grandson.
Members of the Sackler family are rarely seen in public.
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Looking for a new family pet? Here are the links to visit when it comes to adopting...
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019
Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital
Top pick: National Commercial Bank
Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects
Analyst: Shabbir Malik of EFG-Hermes
Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank
Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates
Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank
Top pick: Arab National Bank
Reason: Attractive valuation and good growth potential in terms of both balance sheet and dividends
SQUADS
South Africa:
Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada
Coach: Ottis Gibson
Bangladesh:
Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed.
Coach: Chandika Hathurusingha
