John Godfrey arrived here on Wednesday to take up the role of first US ambassador to Sudan in almost 25 years, the US embassy in Khartoum said in a statement.

The US removed Sudan from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism in December 2020

In 1993, the US listed Sudan as a country that sponsors terrorism, accusing Khartoum of supporting al-Qaeda, whose founder Osama bin Laden lived in Sudan from 1992 to 1996.

In 1997, the US downgraded its diplomatic representation in Sudan from ambassador to the level of charge d'affaires, and imposed unilateral economic sanctions on Khartoum for alleged sponsorship of terrorism.

In December 2019, Washington announced its intention to raise its diplomatic representation with Khartoum to the level of ambassador.

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In May 2020, Sudan appointed Nureldin Satti as its first ambassador to the US in 23 years.

The US removed Sudan from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism in December 2020.