Sudan ordered to pay terror attack victims

The US Supreme Court has ruled that Sudan is required to pay punitive damages to some of the victims of the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania carried out by al-Qaeda. BBC News reports that the unanimous decision by the Supreme Court means that about $800m out of the more than $4bn that was awarded in punitive damages in 2011 has been reinstated. The ruling applies to US nationals, embassy employees and contractors. The ruling comes at a time when Sudan's new government is pushing to be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Trump administration is nearing a deal with Sudan to resolve the issue as part of Washington’s efforts to support the civilian-led transitional government in Sudan, whose armed forces last year ousted President Omar al-Bashir. Earlier this year, Sudan settled terrorism-related claims from the 2000 suicide bombings which left more than 200 people dead in the twin embassy attacks in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. Sudan was accused of giving al-Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin Laden technical and financial support.

Full report in The Wall Street Journal (subscription needed)

Full BBC News report