![Sudan [shutterstock]](https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Sudan-e1555938324206-2500x1406.jpg)
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Khartoum, Sudan: Khartoum American School: 2020-2021 Fact Sheet
U.S. Relationship
U.S.-Sudan Relations
The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Sudan in 1956, following its independence from joint administration by Egypt and the United Kingdom. The U.S. played a key role in helping negotiate the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between Sudan and Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement that laid the groundwork for South Sudan's 2011 independence referendum and secession. U.S. policy in Sudan is focused on ensuring that Sudan does not provide support to or a safe haven for international terrorists; achieving a definitive end to gross human rights abuses and conflicts, including in the Darfur region and the states of Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan; and encouraging an open and inclusive political dialogue, to address the real causes of Sudan’s persistent internal conflicts.
U.S. Assistance to Sudan
In the face of widespread humanitarian needs caused by conflict, displacement, and natural disasters, the U.S. has been a major donor of humanitarian aid to the people of Sudan throughout the last quarter century. The U.S. has declared disasters in Sudan due to complex emergencies each year since 1987. As the largest international donor of humanitarian aid in Sudan, the U.S. continues to provide impartial, needs-based assistance to all accessible areas and populations, including displaced and otherwise conflict-affected people, individuals living in camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), local communities hosting IDPs, and formerly displaced returnees. The U.S. supports democratic development in Sudan, as well as a transition from emergency assistance to development assistance where conditions and security allow.
Bilateral Economic Relations
As the result of an intensive bilateral effort focused on achieving progress by Sudan in five key areas of engagement (countering terrorist groups, ending the threat of the Lord’s Resistance Army, ending the government’s offensive internal military operations, ending Sudan’s destabilizing role in South Sudan, and improving humanitarian access), on January 13, 2017, the United States announced the broad lifting of certain longstanding sanctions against Sudan. The U.S. and Sudan have a small amount of bilateral trade. Sudan is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, which has a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the U.S.
![Sudan Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; colors and design based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I, but the meanings of the colors are expressed as follows: red signifies the struggle for freedom, white is the color of peace, light, and love, black represents Sudan itself (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity [CIA World Fact Book]](https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/su-lgflag.gif)