US lobbying

US Lobbying: Sudan hires former US Congressman to repair coup damage

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By Julian Pecquet

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Posted on February 22, 2022 21:11

People attends a protest rally in Khartoum
Protesters march during rally against military rule following last month’s coup in Khartoum,Sudan. January 24, 2022. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

The government of Sudan has hired a former member of Congress with a history of opposing former President Omar al-Bashir to help repair relations with Washington and unblock US assistance suspended after the 25 October coup.

A nominally independent technocrat has retained lobbying firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough to help advance bilateral ties with the US and “facilitate foreign aid and investments in Sudan,” according to a newly disclosed lobbying filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The lobbying work is being led by former Congressman Jim Moran, a Virginia Democrat.

The contract is for $30,000 per month for one year. It became effective on 14 February, after the Sudanese government made an initial $90,000 payment.

Moran told The Africa Report that he’s not lobbying for the military junta led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Instead, the contract is with Commissioner General Ezzadean Elsafi, the head of the Commission for Social Safety, Solidarity, and Poverty Reduction.

“There are people within the government who are technocrats, who I think can spend that money responsibly,”

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