Sudan is Africa’s third-largest country with 1,886,068 square kilometers (728,215 square miles). A host of over 40 million people, the Republic of Sudan has, for decades, been unstable. This third-largest country in the Arab world is no exception to the tag for being connected to the Al-Qaeda network of Islamic extremists and Salafist jihadists. This is the main reason why the U.S. had blamed Sudan for the 2000 attack on its USS Cole ship which resulted in the death of 17 U.S. Navy sailors. The response from the U.S. had been to categorize Sudan under the list of state sponsors of terrorism: an impression that has tainted the image of Sudan on the globe.

Since the ousting of former President Omar al-Bashir, the new leader has decided to revive the reputation of the country by promising to pay $30 million settlement fine to the families of the deceased sailors. This huge amount is a negotiated agreement based on the 2014 ruling of a U.S. court wherein $35 million was fixed as compensation. The final judgment insisted on Sudan providing Al-Quaeda with the aid a year after the 9/11 attack. An amount which the present government claims is aimed to “settle the historical allegations of terrorism left by the former regime,” though the new government “explicitly denies” its involvement in this disastrous attack.

This deadly attack on USS Cole was done by suicide bombers in a small boat while refueling in the port of Aden in Yemen. Leaving 39 sailors wounded, Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, said this agreement was made “to meet the conditions set by the U.S. administration to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism to normalize relations with the United States and the rest of the world,” CNN reports.

Still in the process to resolve the severe fuel shortages and the huge economic protracted liquidity crisis, Sudan is making further negotiations with Kenya. Speaking to CNN, the Minister of Information Faisal Mohamed Saleh, mentioned settlement agreements will be reached to compensate the victims of the Nairobi 1998 embassy bombing. Similarly, he added, Sudan will make compensations to Tanzania for the Dar es Salaam embassy bombing.
As much as it’s evident that Sudan’s actions are geared largely towards repairing their global image and repairing a debt-stricken economy, this government deserves applause. It is important to commend their peaceful effort to restore broken relations with other countries. The Sudanese government needs to realize these promises and ensure to break any ties if there are terrorist groups. Reconciliation and compensation remain an effective peace-building strategy. This should and could be emulated by other countries as a measure to restore global peace and maintain stronger national relationships with other countries. World peace is possible if other countries involved in terrorist attacks can admit and pay repercussions where necessary. Deadly attacks can never be justified and it leaves the families of the deceased people with a lifetime pain. Compensations can only relieve the hurt to an extent. The world anticipates seeing Sudan fulfilling these bold promises.