The Sovereign Council and the Council of Ministers jointly repealed a 1958 law banning Sudanese from diplomatic and commercial relations with the Hebrew state. Another step in the rapprochement between the two countries.
Sixty-three years later, the boycott law disappears. This text forbade diplomatic and commercial relations, even indirect ones, with individuals or entities belonging to Israelis and even residents of Israel. Even the products were boycotted. Those who tried to break this law risked ten years in prison and a large fine.
From now on, the peoples of the two countries will be able to do business. The Sudanese will also be able to visit their approximately 6,000 compatriots living in the Hebrew state.
The United States, the artisan of the rapprochement, spoke of a “further step before a definitive normalization of relations”. Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Department, welcomes a decision that will “have a concrete and immediate impact on the lives of the population through exchanges and investment”.
Following the fall of the Sudanese dictatorship, contacts resumed in early 2020. The United States also demanded that Sudan normalize its relations with Israel in exchange for lifting the heavy sanctions imposed for decades and finally was withdrawn in December.
With the repeal of this law, Khartoum hopes to return a little more to the international field and gain more political and financial support. Critical support as the country suffers a terrible economic crisis.
