U.S. Government Withdraws ``Transition Support`` in Sudan

moatinoon
"moatinoon" has learned that the U.S. government has decided to withdraw the "Transition Support Project" allocated for Sudan. It is expected that project staff will depart the country by May.

Informed sources clarified that the "Transition Support Project," also known as "Transition to New Sudan," was designed to support and improve the management of six ministries, including the Ministry of Finance. It was unrelated to humanitarian aid. The first batch of project teams is set to leave in mid-March, followed by the rest in May.

The United States had pledged to fund the project after the "Partners Conference for Sudan" held in Berlin in 2020. The total funds committed by participating countries in the conference amounted to approximately 2 billion dollars. The goal was to "create partnerships between Sudan and the international community to achieve economic stability and drive development and democratic transformation." Forty countries and international organizations participated in the conference.

The United States, being the largest donor to Sudan, played a significant role in these funds, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) implemented the project through several other agencies.

Observers believe that the decision comes as a result of increased political and diplomatic pressure on the Sudanese government following the outbreak of war and the collapse of the democratic transition in the country.

This decision follows shortly after the European Unions decision on Monday, January 22, to freeze assets and prohibit the direct or indirect provision of funds or economic resources to six entities—half affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces and the other half with the Rapid Support Forces. This was due to "supporting activities undermining stability and political transition in Sudan."