US and Sudan agree to restore sovereign immunity to end terror lawsuits

Agreement will settle cases brought against Sudan in US courts, including the bombing of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has pressed the US to remove his country's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. AP

Sudan and the US have signed an agreement to restore the African country’s sovereign immunity in a move to end litigation in American courts over Khartoum's history of involvement in terrorist attacks.

The Sudanese Justice Ministry said on Friday that the agreement will settle cases brought against Sudan in US courts, including for the bombing of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, for which Sudan has agreed to pay $335 million to victims.

The deal is part of a US pledge to remove Sudan from its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, which dates back to support by removed ruler Omar Al Bashir who had ties with and hosted terrorist groups – including Osama Bin Laden.

President Donald Trump said this month that the US will remove Sudan from the list as soon as Khartoum sent the $335m it has agreed to pay to American victims of militant attacks and their families. Khartoum says it has now transferred the funds.

But the concern in Khartoum was that despite paying compensation it would continue to face further lawsuits unless the US agreed to recognise sovereign immunity, which it lost as a designated sponsor of terrorism.

The terror designation makes it difficult for its transitional government to access urgently needed debt relief and foreign financing as it fights an economic crisis.

Sudan has also agreed to normalise ties with Israel, making Khartoum the third Arab government after the UAE and Bahrain to establish relations with Israel in the last two months.