Sudan听is eager to听again听contribute to the international community听but will need听assistance as听it works to听revitalize its tattered听economy,听Prime Minister Abdalla Adam听Hamdok听told the UN General Assembly on Saturday.
The African country听is听continuing听on听a path听of political transition following the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir听in听April 2019.听
鈥淪udan, with the blood of its martyrs, has gone through decades of tyranny, injustice and social deterioration,鈥澨齢e said.听
鈥淒espite all of this, this period of transition of the young glorious revolution is experiencing many difficulties,听which call for the support of the international community听in order to听be able to carry out the government鈥檚 projects and plans intended to improve the economic situation.鈥澨�
A听鈥榩aralyzed鈥櫶齟conomy
The Prime Minister made the appeal in a pre-recorded speech that was broadcast during the annual debate in the UN General Assembly Hall. Heads of State and Government are mainly participating virtually this year due to the听COVID-19听pandemic.听
Mr.听Hamdock听said Sudan鈥檚听transitional听government has听inherited a 鈥減aralyzed economy鈥� and a 鈥渨eak, devastated service sector鈥�, including听a health system that had听been neglected for decades.听 The 鈥渄ark,听strange enemy鈥� of听COVID-19听presents听an additional complication.听
Sudan听has also been hit by recent torrential听rain and听floods which have caused severe loss of life and property. Tens of thousands of homes have either partially or completely collapsed, he reported.
Plans to support families听
The听authorities are听undertaking reforms to restructure the economy and Mr.听Hamdock听pointed to听future plans听that include providing social support to poor families and strengthening agricultural production, both in urban and rural areas.听听
听鈥淲e are making tireless efforts to reconsider national legislation and ensure that it is in harmony with international criteria听and conventions,鈥� he said referring to efforts to 鈥渃lean up鈥� laws on freedom of expression, protection of women鈥檚 rights, and impunity, among other areas.听
However,听the听Prime Minister stated that international support is critical if the economic reforms are to happen.听听听
Therefore, debt forgiveness and 鈥減referential treatment鈥� are top听concerns. Sudan听also听should听be removed from the list of countries that sponsor听terrorism, he added.听
鈥淪udan has returned to the international fold after 30 years outside it. This must happen! But we need this assistance and support听in order to听do so,鈥澨齢e said.听
鈥淚t is our hope that we will be able to accomplish projects of reconstruction and reform so that Sudan will become once again an active player on the regional stage and to contribute to the international community and work to create the future we want.鈥澨�
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