[A-List] US imperialism: Sudan

["Keaney Michael" <Michael.Keaney@xxxxxx>]

US threatens Sudan with sanctions
By Edward Alden in Washington
Financial Times; Sep 06, 2002

The US Congress looks set to approve legislation that would impose
sanctions against Sudan unless a peace deal is reached with southern
rebels within six months.

But supporters of the bill, the Sudan Peace Act, have agreed to drop a
controversial provision that would have prevented foreign oil companies
that operate in Sudan from raising funds in US capital markets.

The pending congressional action comes at a delicate time in Sudan, with
negotiations suspended between the government in Khartoum and rebels of
the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). The two sides reached the
outlines of a peace agreement at the Kenyan town of Machakos in July,
but Khartoum halted talks this week after rebels captured the town of
Torit.

The congressional move is aimed at strengthening the US hand in efforts
to facilitate a lasting agreement. "Congress is playing the bad cop
here," said one congressional aide.

The Sudan Peace Act has been stalled in Congress since last year, when
the House of Representatives voted 422-2 in favour of the measure, which
included capital markets sanctions. The Senate passed a milder version
after strong opposition from the Bush administration and Wall Street
lobbyists, but the two bills have not been reconciled.

Supporters of capital markets sanctions - which include an unlikely
coalition of human rights activists and Christian fundamentalists with
close ties to the southern rebels - have now agreed to drop the
provision in exchange for the threat of tough sanctions if Khartoum
reneges on the peace deal.

The new legislation - which supporters are hoping will pass the Senate
and House this month - would require the Bush administration to block
all international financial aid to the debt-ridden Khartoum regime and
to downgrade diplomatic relations if a peace deal was not finalised in
six months. In addition, Congress would authorise up to $100m (ý65m,
EUR102m) annually in aid to the south if peace talks failed.

The compromise was worked out with Senator Sam Brownback, a Republican
who plays a central role on Africa issues. Mr Brownback also plans to
introduce a Sudan Democracy Act that would hold out the promise of aid
if a peace deal stuck.