Sudan has come a long way since the appalling Omar al-Bashir was ousted last year. And now:
Sudan is to normalise relations with Israel - the latest in a series of Arab League countries to do so.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump has removed Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, unblocking economic aid and investment.
Announcing the normalisation, Mr Trump said "at least five more" Arab states wanted a peace deal with Israel.
The Sudan deal comes weeks after similar moves by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.
The two Gulf states became the first in the Middle East to recognise Israel in 26 years. The UAE's foreign ministry said it welcomed Sudan's decision, calling it "an important step to boost security and prosperity in the region."
Sudan and Israel said in a three-way statement with the US that delegations would meet "in the coming weeks".
"The leaders agreed to the normalisation of relations between Sudan and Israel and to end the state of belligerence between their nations," it said. [...]
Shortly after Mr Trump formally moved to remove Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, reporters in Washington were taken to the Oval Office where the president was on the phone to the Sudanese and Israeli leaders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the agreement was a "dramatic breakthrough for peace" and the start of a "new era".
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok thanked Mr Trump for removing his country from the US terrorism list and said the Sudanese government was working "towards international relations that best serve our people". Sudanese state TV said the "state of aggression" would end.
Trump tried to play politics, but Bibi wasn't playing along:
While on the phone to the two world leaders, Mr Trump said: "Do you think 'Sleepy Joe' could have made this deal? Somehow I don't think so."
"Sleepy Joe" is his pejorative nickname for his opponent in the upcoming US presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden.
In response, Mr Netanyahu said: "Well, Mr President, one thing I can tell you is, um, uh, we appreciate the help for peace from anyone in America."
Nicely dodged. Which is not to say that Trump doesn't have a point.
Being the Beeb though, reporting on Israel and Trump, this must of course be a cynical move:
The move is seen as a foreign policy victory for Mr Trump ahead of the 3 November election. BBC correspondents say the timing of the announcement is no coincidence.
Mr Trump's pro-Israel policies are seen by his advisers as appealing to Christian evangelical voters, a key part of his voter base.
After all, who but the most rabid Christian evangelical would see this as a positive development?
More, from the JC:
But there are questions over whether Sudan’s transitional government has the authority to strike such a deal. The country remains without a parliament and elections are due in 2022.
Any deal with Israel has been a matter of vehement debate within Sudan’s transitional government, with its military wing, headed by Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan, in favour, but Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok opposed.
The deal with Sudan would include aid and investment from Israel, particularly in technology and agriculture, along with further debt relief.
It comes as Sudan and its transitional government face civil stife and economic chaos.
Thousands have protested in the country’s capital Khartoum and other regions in recent days over the dire economic conditions.
Reports in Israel have also suggested a normalisation deal with Saudi Arabia is on the cards.
Mossad director Yossi Cohen claimed: "They seem to be waiting for the US election, to give a 'gift' to the president-elect."
Oman is also said to be moving towards agreeing a deal with Israel.
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