Sudanese officials blame sanctions for economic woes

By Mahmoud Barakat and Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

ANKARA

Protests in Sudan have been caused by deteriorating economic conditions triggered by the international community, Sudanese officials say.

Speaking at a forum devoted to Sudan at Ankara-based Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE), Sudanese Federal Government Minister Hamid Mumtaz cited weak economy as the main cause of the protests.

"Events in Sudan are internal that began with spontaneous demands by citizens," he told the forum, themed "Sudan in the Clamp of International System".

Sudan has been rocked by popular protests for the last two months, with demonstrators decrying President Omar al-Bashir’s failure to remedy the country’s longstanding economic woes.

Sudanese officials say around 31 people have been killed since the protests began almost two months ago, although the opposition puts the number at closer to 50.

A nation of 40 million people, Sudan has struggled to recover from the loss of three quarters of its oil output -- its main source of foreign currency -- when South Sudan seceded in 2011.

"What happened in Sudan is not related to Iran or any country in the Middle East," Mumtaz said.

He said some media outlets have tried to portray the events in Sudan as a "political change that seeks to bring down the regime".

"We extol the efforts of all our partners in the region and the Middle East," the minister said, adding that Khartoum did not accuse any foreign party of interfering in its domestic affairs.

He, however, asserted that there had been interference in the past.

"Sudan has been continually targeted in an effort to prevent it from utilizing its economic resources," the minister argued.

US blockade

The Sudanese minister said Sudan has been crippled by a U.S. blockade backed by other western countries.

The U.S. first imposed sanctions on Sudan in 1997, ostensibly due to the country’s rights record and terrorism concerns.

In late 2017, Washington lifted the sanctions but left Sudan on its list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism.

Speaking at the forum, Sudanese Information Minister Bushara Gumaa Aro said the Sudanese people live in coexistence - especially between Muslims and Christians.

"Sudan is strong with the variety of its people," he said, going on to point out that religious and racial differences are being used to cause polarization in the country.

Gumaa asserted that "international mechanisms" are being used to fulfil the interest of the "so-called international community".

Crises and wars are being "manufactured" by foreign entities to be exploited later for "investments", Gumaa argued.

Turkish support

The information minister accused the IMF of failing to support the Sudanese government, contrary to other countries that receive IMF support despite their high debts.

"Sudan's debt was originally $8 billion but went up to $54 billion with profit margin," Gumaa said.

Dr. Ismail Safi, a member of Turkish Presidency Security and Foreign Policies Council, said Turkey gave aid worth $400 million to Sudan in 2017.

"These include humanitarian aid, supports by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD)," Safi said.

This number does not include the aid given by the private sector and the NGOs, Safi added.