WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In what has by now become an irrational routine so thoroughly entrenched in U.S. policy, the white House has once again renewed the completely inexcusable unilateral sanctions that the U.S. has imposed against Sudan since 1997. There is no question that this is an unproductive "leverage" that the U.S. government is sorely misusing and intends to keep using for the foreseeable future. Thus the renewal was not a surprise in the least. The maintenance of these sanctions for the past 17 years was premised on one false issue after another. Their lifting has always been conditioned on goals that, once met by Sudan, invariably give birth to new ones that now become the condition. Meanwhile the innocent Sudanese continue to suffer under this policy that even the United Nations condemns as "legally and practically bankrupt!"

The irony is that National Security is cited as a reason for perpetuating the sanctions. Yet they turn around and praise Sudan's vital cooperation in counterterrorism. What undoubtedly will jeopardize any National Security is the polarization and alienation that results from people perceiving a given set of actions or attitude as utterly unjust and uncalled for. And unfortunately the Sudanese populace which once highly regarded the U.S. government is increasingly adopting the same opinion and posture held by those in the middle-East. Surely this is not the reputation one would want to create if the goal is to build a bridge.

Sanctions is a program intended to devastate communities wholesale and create unrest in countries. There are examples where the U.S.-imposed "targeted" sanctions were directly responsible for the deaths of millions, half of whom were children. And in Sudan, U.S. sanctions have only worked to compound the suffering of a population that is already weary from the global financial meltdown from which the world economies are reeling. It is unfortunate, that this administration has failed to rectify this colossal mistake and has instead opted to retain the old policy that hurts our people and help the rebel groups who work to topple the government. The U.S. policy makers must at some point come to terms with the fact that Times and circumstances do change. And so routines must change, and it should begin by correcting this egregious policy responsible for economic injustices against the innocent citizens of Sudan.

Embassy of Sudan Press and Information Office, phone: +1-202-338-8565, or fax: +1-202-667-2406

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SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan