President Trump signed on Monday a bill that will grant Sudan immunity from future prosecutions for the victims of the 1998 US embassy attacks in East Africa and provide Sudan with about $ 1 billion in U.S. loans and financial aid. But the bill will not give Sudan immunity from lawsuits by families of the victims of 9/11.
Why it matters: The legal aspect was a critical part of the agreement between the Trump administration and Sudan, which included removing the country from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and normalizing Sudanese relations with Israel.
- The invoice signature will allow this process to continue.
The big picture: In recent weeks, there have been intense diplomatic and political negotiations in Washington over the project.
- The Sudanese government has demanded full legal immunity, but a group of Democrats including Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (NY) and Senator Robert Menendez (NJ) refused to give Sudan immunity in future legal proceedings for the 9/11 victims. .
- Sudanese officials have threatened that the normalization process with Israel could be in danger if the bill is not passed and they do not obtain immunity.
- Israel has lobbied for Democratic and Republican senators to grant immunity to Sudan in future lawsuits. But the differences remained until the last few days.
Between the lines: A US official told me that the White House has managed in the last few days to reach an agreement: Sudan would obtain legal immunity from all future prosecutions, except for the victims of 9/11.
- Sudan will be compensated for this by obtaining $ 700 million in direct US financial assistance and more than $ 200 million in loans.
- Victims of the 1998 terrorist attack on embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, which killed more than 200 people, will receive $ 150 million in compensation from the US government and another $ 335 million from Sudan in exchange for dropping all lawsuits.
For registration: American officials said the Sudanese government, Democratic senators and the families of victims of the 1998 and 9/11 terrorist attacks agreed to the deal.
- The agreement was part of the general bill passed in Congress and was sent to the president for signature.
What is the next: The immunity agreement will allow the Sudanese government to have access to foreign aid and investments without fear of sanctions and lawsuits.
- It will also allow the country to continue the normalization process with Israel.
Flashback: Secret contacts between Israel and Sudan allowed Trump-sealed deal
Editor’s note: This post has been corrected to reflect that the general bill was sent to President Trump for his signature (he has not yet signed it).