PM Hamdok reaffirmed the importance of separating normalization of ties from a US decision on removing Sudan"s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism KHARTOUM: Sudan"s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday that the country"s transitional government was not mandated to normalize ties with Israel, its cabinet spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday. Hamdok reaffirmed the importance of separating normalization of ties from a US decision on removing Sudan"s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, Faisal Saleh said. “The Prime Minister clarified” to Pompeo “that the transitional period in Sudan is being led by a wide alliance with a specific agenda — to complete the transition, achieve peace and stability in the country and hold free elections,” Sudan"s government spokesman Faisal Saleh said. The post-Omar Bashir transitional government, whose term ends with elections in 2022, “does not have a mandate beyond these tasks or to decide on normalisation with Israel,” Hamdok was quoted as telling Pompeo. Pompeo was in Sudan on Tuesday during a tour urging more Arab countries to normalize ties with Israel, following the US-brokered Israel-UAE agreement. The secretary of state, the first American top diplomat to visit Sudan since Condoleezza Rice went in 2005, arrived on a historic “first official non-stop flight” from Tel Aviv, he tweeted from the plane. Pompeo emerged from the plane after landing at Khartoum International Airport wearing a face mask as a protective measure against the coronavirus. His motorcade then left the airport, heading to meetings with Sudanese Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the head of the ruling sovereign council, and Hamdok. Pompeo also tweeted that Sudan"s democratic transition was a “once in a generation opportunity,” adding that he looked forward to discussing “how to deepen the US-Sudan relationship.” Great to be in Khartoum for meetings with the civilian-led transitional government. The democratic transition underway is a once in a generation opportunity for the people of Sudan. Looking forward to discussing how to deepen the U.S.-Sudan relationship. pic.twitter.com/krfKxt3tyS — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 25, 2020 Sudan, which has launched sweeping social and political reforms, hopes Washington will soon take it off its blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism as it seeks to fully re-integrate into the international community. Hamdok wrote on Twitter that he and Pompeo had a “direct and transparent conversation regarding delisting Sudan” from the terror list, on bilateral relations and US government support. “I continue to look forward to positive tangible steps in supporting the glorious Sudanese revolution,” Hamdok wrote.