The United States is easing sanctions against Sudan to allow Americans to export smartphones and some other communications hardware and software to Sudan.
For example, the change will allow US-based companies such as Apple and Google make available software through their “App” stores, which previously had been unavailable for download in Sudan.
Longstanding US economic sanctions against Sudan date to the administration of President Bill Clinton, who banned US-Sudan business dealings after alleged involvement of Sudan in attacks such as the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam embassy bombings.
Sanctions were strengthened after the start of the Darfur war in 2003, after the Bush Administration accused Sudan’s government of attacking civilians in the far-western region.
In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, US Special Envoy Donald Booth said that opening the export of personal communications technology to Sudan would benefit its people, promoting free speech to help Sudanese citizens communicate with each other, access the Internet and connect to the world.
Booth noted that in recent years the US made similar changes to its Iran and Cuba sanctions.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department released new legal guidelines to help lawyers at technology companies to comply with the newly revised policy.
One of the documents explains that the decision allows case-by-case licensing of exports of “telecommunications equipment and associated computers, software and technology for civil end use.”
The document says the move is “consistent with the US Government’s commitment to the advancement of the free flow of information and to facilitate communications by the Sudanese people, including during a national dialogue.”
The Treasury Department noted, however, that US firms are still prohibited from hiring sales agents or sales personnel in Sudan and from using Sudanese marketing firms, among other restrictions that remain in place.