Sudan after Sanctions

The US Institute of Peace (USIP) published in May 2018 a report titled "Sudan after Sanctions: Sudanese Views of Relations with the United States" by Aly Verjee, a visiting expert at USIP.

Twenty years of comprehensive US economic sanctions on Sudan were permanently revoked in October 2017, although the US continues to designate Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, preventing a broader normalization of relations. Sudan's deteriorating economy, government repression, and failure to resolve Sudan's multiple conflicts have overshadowed this decision by the US.

Kenya 2014 Religious Freedom Report

The State Department has released the Kenya 2014 International Religious Freedom Report.  According to the Kenyan government, Kenya is about 82 percent Christian and 11 percent Muslim.  There are also small minorities of Hindus, Sikhs, and Bahais. 

Religious tensions were high in some areas of the country, usually following attacks by the Somali-based terrorist group al-Shabaab.  Some Muslims, especially ethnic Somalis, stated their communities were the target of government-directed extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrest and detention, and deportation, charges the government denied.  Muslim leaders and human rights organizations stated "Operation Usalama Watch" unfairly targeted Somali and some other Muslim communities.

Sudan 2014 Religious Freedom Report

The State Department has released the Sudan 2014 International Religious Freedom Report.  The Sudan government estimates that approximately 97 percent of the population is Muslim and 3 percent is Christian.  Some religious advocacy groups estimate non-Muslims make up between 15 to 20 percent of the population.

There was a general consensus among religious leaders that Muslim and Christian communities generally co-existed peacefully.  Muslim citizens sometimes harassed and intimidated non-Muslims, however, and pressured them to convert to Islam.  Because of the overlap between ethnicity and religion, it was often difficult to determine whether reported abuses were specifically due to religious intolerance.

The Secretary of State redesignated Sudan a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

South Sudan 2014 Religious Freedom Report

The State Department has released the South Sudan 2014 International Religious Freedom Report.  South Sudan is nominally majority Christian although there are significant numbers of persons who follow indigenous religious beliefs.  There is also a minority Muslim population, although there are no reliable estimates on the percentage. 

Christian and Muslim leaders regularly consult with each other.  The government demolished a mosque built on government property by northern Muslims during the war for independence and discussed compensation with Muslim leaders for this and two other mosques demolished in previous years.

Djibouti 2014 Religious Freedom Report

The State Department has released the Djibouti 2014 International Religious Freedom Report.  Djibouti is 94 percent Sunni Muslim.  There were reports of physical abuse against converts to Christianity by members of the converts' communities and discrimination in employment and education against converts to Christianity. 

Somalia 2014 Religious Freedom Report

The State department has released the Somalia 2014 International Religious Freedom Report.  There was strong societal pressure to adhere to traditions associated with Sunni Islam.  Conversion from Islam to another religion remained socially unacceptable in all areas.  Those suspected of conversion faced harassment by members of the their community.  The terrorist group al-Shabaab harassed, maimed, or killed persons suspected of converting from Islam.

Eritrea 2014 Religious Freedom Report

The State Department has released the Eritrea 2014 International Religious Freedom Report.  The government continued to detain or harass members of certain religious groups, including large numbers of Jehovah's Witnesses.  There were no reports of significant societal actions affecting religious freedom.  The Secretary of State designated Eritrea as a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act in 2004 and renewed the designation in 2014. 

Ethiopia 2014 Religious Freedom Report

The State Department has released the Ethiopia 2014 International Religious Freedom Report.  Unlike previous years, there were no reports of religiously motivated societal violence.  There were lingering tensions between Christians and Muslims.  Some Ethiopian Orthodox and Protestant groups engaged in mutual recriminations over conversions and charges of heresy.