By Mohammed Amin
KHARTOUM, Sudan
The Sudanese government has dismissed the U.S.' decision to renew its name on its list of state sponsors of international terrorism.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry accused the Obama administration of double-standards in its foreign policy.
"We are surprised, shocked and sorry at the American decision to renew our name on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, as Sudan has cooperated with the U.S. in its war against terrorism," the Sudanese ministry said.
The U.S. State Department included Sudan in its 2015 annual report among countries hosting international terrorists, including al-Qaeda inspired groups, despite its cooperation in countering the terrorist activities of al-Shabaab in Somalia and Boko Haram in Nigeria.
"The Government of Sudan has taken steps to limit the activities of these elements and has worked to disrupt foreign fighters’ use of Sudan as a logistics base and transit point for terrorists going to Syria and Iraq. However, groups continued to operate in Sudan in 2014 and there continued to be reports of Sudanese nationals participating in terrorist organizations," the report said.
It added that the Sudanese government allowed members of the Palestinian movement Hamas to reside and fundraise in Sudan over the past year.
Sudan has been on America's list of the countries that sponsor terrorism since 1993.
