Sudan denies being ‘blackmailed’ over Israel but admits US was a factor

The White House's announcement of the normalisation of relations between Sudan and Israel came as Washington said it was removing Khartoum from a state sponsors of terrorism "blacklist."

President Donald Trump talks on a phone call with the leaders of Sudan and Israel, as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (L), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner and National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien applaud in the Oval Office of the White House. October 23, 2020.
AP

President Donald Trump talks on a phone call with the leaders of Sudan and Israel, as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (L), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner and National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien applaud in the Oval Office of the White House. October 23, 2020.

Sudan was not "blackmailed" by the US when it agreed to normalise relations with Israel, the African nation's top general, Abdel Fattah al Burhan, has said

The White House's announcement on Friday of the normalisation of relations between Sudan and Israel came as Washington said it was removing Khartoum from a state sponsors of terrorism "blacklist."

"We were not blackmailed over normalisation," Burhan said in an interview on state TV.

But the general conceded the US had been one of the "catalysts for the decision" to normalise ties with Israel.

READ MORE: Trump announces Israel-Sudan normalisation deal

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READ MORE: Sudan made no promises to 'normalising ties' with Israel

On Sunday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had demanded normalisation with Israel with a view to removing Khartoum from the terror list during his visit to the Sudanese capital in August.

Burhan said "reconciliation" was "in the interest of Sudan."

"We are isolated and have suffered from sanctions," he said.

"The removal of our name from the list ... will allow us to return to the international community. We will benefit economically and get technology," he said.

READ MORE: Israeli delegation visits Sudan in drive to normalise ties

In addition, the diplomatic breakthrough would "release aid" to implement the inter-Sudanese peace agreement signed on October 3, he added, referring to a separate landmark deal that brought in several Sudanese rebel factions from the cold.

Critics in Sudan have accused the authorities of betraying the "pan-Arab cause" and the Palestinians by agreeing to normalisation with the Jewish state.

"We all want a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders ... but we do not want to make Sudan bear full responsibility for it," the general said.

Burhan denied rumours of pressure from the United Arab Emirates, which along with Bahrain normalised relations with Israel in recent weeks.

On Sunday, Sudan said there would be a joint meeting with Israel "in the coming weeks, to discuss and conclude cooperation agreements in the fields of agriculture, trade, economy, aviation, migration and other issues."

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Jewish state was sending $5 million worth of wheat to Sudan, as it grapples with renewed protests over shortages of staples.

READ MORE: Sudan's move to normalise relations with Israel condemned

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