This archive report was first published on 20 December 2019.
On December 20, 2019, the US State Department announced its annual list of countries that fail to protect religious liberty, and Sudan was the only nation removed from the list.
The removal comes as Sudan's new civilian government, led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who took office in September, is working to rebuild the country after decades of military rule and conflict.
However, Sudan still faces a major challenge in its bid to be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that has severely impeded investment in the country.
Nine countries remained on the list, including Pakistan, which was designated in 2018 due to concerns over the treatment of minorities, including through the abuse of a blasphemy law that can carry the death penalty.
Other countries on the list include China, which has been accused of incarcerating at least one million Uighurs and other Muslims, and US ally Saudi Arabia, which imposes the rigid Wahabi school of Islam.
"No country, entity or individual should be able to persecute people of faith without accountability," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement.
The State Department also added Cuba, Nicaragua, and Nigeria to a watchlist of countries that could face a full designation if they do not improve their records on religious freedom.
