Published December 23rd, 2019
Sudanese Christian woman prays during a Sunday service (AFP)
Highlights
During Prime Minister Abdalla
Hamdok's first visit to the White House earlier this month, the US
announced that the countries would upgrade their diplomatic relations by
exchanging ambassadors for the first time in over two decades.
The United States dropped Sudan from its list of nations that severely violate religious freedoms, signalling increased support for Sudan's transitional government.
The US State Department said it had upgraded Sudan to a special watch list for religious freedom, citing "significant steps taken by the civilian-led transitional government".
Sudan's joint military-civilian body was established in August after a popular uprising ousted former authoritarian president Omar al-Bashir. The State Department praised the new government for its efforts "to address the previous regime's systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom".