Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (R) welcomes Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in Riyadh, in 2015.

:: The President of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, on Monday spoke to King Salman bin Abdulaziz expressing his thanks and appreciation for the support of the King and the efforts of the Saudi government to help partially lift the 20-year-old US economic sanctions on Sudan.

In turn King Salman expressed his congratulations on lifting the sanctions, hoping that this decision will contribute to the development and stability of the Republic of Sudan.

In completing a process begun by former President Barack Obama at the end of his term and opposed by human rights groups, President Donald Trump raised an American trade embargo and other punitive measures that effectively cut Sudan out of the world’s financial system.

The US decision to abolish Executive Order No. 13067 of October 16, 1997 under President Bill Clinton and Resolution 13412 of October 17, 2006 under President George W Bush, lifted economic sanctions imposed on Sudan. However Sudan still remained on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The resolution included allowing all bank transfers between the two countries and resuming trade exchange between the Sudan and the United States.