Implications of Sanctions on Local Populations in Africa: a Case Study of United States of America’s Sanctions Against Sudan.

Abstract

International sanctions are actions undertaken by a country to force another country abide by international laws and national interests of the state imposing the sanctions. Sanctions are imposed for different reasons including security, political, and social issues. The targeted self-governing state is required to agree to the terms stipulated in order for the sanctions to be lifted. The U.S has been using sanctions as a powerful tool to advance its foreign policy objectives. Sudan is one of the countries that have faced sanctions by the U.S mainly for security reasons. The U.S has accused Sudan for a long time of supporting terrorism and thus a key threat to global peace and security. The sanctions imposed to Sudan have been geared towards ensuring the regime cooperates with the U.S and international community in the fight against terrorism. However, the implementation of sanctions had a dire effect especially on socioeconomic and political areas. This begs the question on whether the sanctions have been effective in changing the behavior and actions of the regime in Sudan towards upholding the stipulated terms in lifting the sanctions. The U.S preferences expressed through sanctions in Sudan have an effect on local populations. This study examined the effect of U.S sanctions especially on local populations in Sudan. The study adopted interdependence liberalism theory which sheds light on the scope of relations and interdependence among states in an increasingly globalized world. A case study approach was adopted in understanding the effect of sanctions towards local populations. The study made use of both primary and secondary data in retrieving key content that facilitated development of research findings and reports based on the study objectives. A sample population was extracted with key primary data derived from different stakeholders including government representatives and experts in the field of diplomacy. Semi-structured interviews as well as questionnaires were developed and used in collecting primary data. The questionnaires align with the key objectives of the study centering on understanding the impact of U.S sanctions on local populations in Sudan. Data synthesis was done through quantitative and qualitative analysis. Content analysis was adopted in evaluating data and aligning with study objectives. The main themes as derived from study objectives were developed to help identify the study patterns and align with themes. Tables, graphs, and charts were used to present the study findings and facilitate identification of further studies and presentation of recommendations and conclusions. The findings of the research revealed that the US sanctions on Sudan affected key socioeconomic areas including education, health, trade and investment, food security and humanitarian activities. The study recommended the adoption of blockchain technology to support humanitarian organizations to allocate humanitarian aid in bid to ensure accountability, transparency, and minimize diversionary practices in the wake of sanctions. while U.S. sanctions aim to compel the Sudanese regime to comply with international norms, their implementation has disproportionately impacted the socioeconomic well-being of innocent civilians, challenging the ethical justification of such measures. This study highlights the necessity for more targeted and transparent approaches, like the adoption of blockchain technology, to mitigate unintended hardships on the local population while pursuing international policy objectives.

International sanctions are actions undertaken by a country to force another country abide by international laws and national interests of the state imposing the sanctions. Sanctions are imposed for different reasons including security, political, and social issues. The targeted self-governing state is required to agree to the terms stipulated in order for the sanctions to be lifted. The U.S has been using sanctions as a powerful tool to advance its foreign policy objectives. Sudan is one of the countries that have faced sanctions by the U.S mainly for security reasons. The U.S has accused Sudan for a long time of supporting terrorism and thus a key threat to global peace and security. The sanctions imposed to Sudan have been geared towards ensuring the regime cooperates with the U.S and international community in the fight against terrorism. However, the implementation of sanctions had a dire effect especially on socioeconomic and political areas. This begs the question on whether the sanctions have been effective in changing the behavior and actions of the regime in Sudan towards upholding the stipulated terms in lifting the sanctions. The U.S preferences expressed through sanctions in Sudan have an effect on local populations. This study examined the effect of U.S sanctions especially on local populations in Sudan. The study adopted interdependence liberalism theory which sheds light on the scope of relations and interdependence among states in an increasingly globalized world. A case study approach was adopted in understanding the effect of sanctions towards local populations. The study made use of both primary and secondary data in retrieving key content that facilitated development of research findings and reports based on the study objectives. A sample population was extracted with key primary data derived from different stakeholders including government representatives and experts in the field of diplomacy. Semi-structured interviews as well as questionnaires were developed and used in collecting primary data. The questionnaires align with the key objectives of the study centering on understanding the impact of U.S sanctions on local populations in Sudan. Data synthesis was done through quantitative and qualitative analysis. Content analysis was adopted in evaluating data and aligning with study objectives. The main themes as derived from study objectives were developed to help identify the study patterns and align with themes. Tables, graphs, and charts were used to present the study findings and facilitate identification of further studies and presentation of recommendations and conclusions. The findings of the research revealed that the US sanctions on Sudan affected key socioeconomic areas including education, health, trade and investment, food security and humanitarian activities. The study recommended the adoption of blockchain technology to support humanitarian organizations to allocate humanitarian aid in bid to ensure accountability, transparency, and minimize diversionary practices in the wake of sanctions. while U.S. sanctions aim to compel the Sudanese regime to comply with international norms, their implementation has disproportionately impacted the socioeconomic well-being of innocent civilians, challenging the ethical justification of such measures. This study highlights the necessity for more targeted and transparent approaches, like the adoption of blockchain technology, to mitigate unintended hardships on the local population while pursuing international policy objectives.