White House Deal: US Removes Cuba From Terrorism Sponsor List

The New Diplomat
Writer

Ad

Kebbi Violence: Ex-AGF Malami, APC Lawmakers Exchange Accusations

• Malami: "Thugs imported to destabilise Kebbi State" • Kebbi APC: "You’re lying, Kebbi is Safe." By Abiola Olawale The immediate past Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has accused Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State and his allies of plotting to import armed thugs and foreign mercenaries…

Nigeria’s 2030 Ascendancy: A Roadmap to Global Power Through Visionary Leader

By Sonny Iroche Introduction Nigeria, with its 230 million people, the largest population in Africa, and vast natural resources, stands at the threshold of transformative potential. Achieving global power status by 2030 would mean not just economic dominance (e.g., a $1 trillion GDP, up from, $450 billion today) but also military strength, technological leadership, and…

N5.7bn contract: EFCC gets order to detain Sujimoto CEO

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured a court order to detain the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, over alleged N5.7billion unexecuted contract. Ogundele is facing investigation following his alleged failure to deliver 22 Smart Green School projects in Enugu State after his company was reportedly paid…

Ad

By Kolawole Ojebisi

As the end of his tenure inches closer, the United States of America President, Joe Biden, has started reversing some decisions taken by his predecessor in office, Donald Trump, who will take the reins of power from him on January 20.

This is as the US President announced plans to remove Cuba from the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Biden noted that this decision is part of a prisoner release deal, the White House had with Cuba.

The US President made the announcement on Tuesday evening.

In response, Cuba has agreed to release 553 prisoners held for “diverse crimes,” with hopes that these include individuals detained during anti-government protests four years ago.

According to BBC, Cuba’s terror designation was reinstated in 2021 by President-elect Donald Trump during the final days of his first presidency, effectively cutting off US economic aid and arms exports to the country.

However, a senior Biden administration official disclosed that a recent assessment revealed “no information” justifying the designation.

Cuba has welcomed the move, describing it as a step “in the right direction,” though it criticised its “limited nature.”

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in a statement that the designation caused “serious damage to the Cuban economy, with a severe effect on the population.”

According to another statement issued by the Cuban government, hundreds of prisoners will be “gradually” released following talks mediated by the Catholic Church. Details on the prisoners remain undisclosed, but the deal is expected to lead to the release of some individuals jailed after the 2021 anti-government protests sparked by Cuba’s economic decline.

Cuba’s inclusion on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism had placed it alongside North Korea, Syria, and Iran.

Countries on this list are considered to have “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.”

The decision to remove Cuba from the list is seen as a potential turning point in US-Cuba relations.

Analysts believe it could pave the way for dialogue on contentious issues and offer some relief to Cuba’s struggling economy, which has been hindered by restrictions that limit foreign investments and banking operations.

The White House has indicated that President Biden plans to notify Congress of his decision, which includes reversing certain Trump-era financial restrictions on Cubans and suspending claims to confiscated property on the island.

It remains uncertain whether Trump, who will return to office on 20 January, will reverse these latest decisions.

His nominee for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has been a vocal advocate for sanctions on Cuba, citing his family’s history of fleeing the country in the 1950s before Fidel Castro’s communist revolution.

Ad

Unlocking Opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea during UNGA80
X whatsapp