Sudan’s new prime minister has said that residual US sanctions are hastening the collapse of the fragile country, warning that, should Sudan become a failed state, the destruction caused by Isis would be “small fry” in comparison.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent before flying to Washington where he is expected to meet President Donald Trump, Abdalla Hamdok urged the US to immediately de-list Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism.

He said if the intentional community allows Sudan to become a failed state, the ensuing chaos would spawn multiple regional “caliphates”.

Washington lifted decades of trade sanctions on Sudan in October 2017 during the rule of former president Omar Bashir, citing progress on counterterrorism and humanitarian access.

But despite a revolution that led to the overthrow of Bashir in April, the terrorism listing and restrictions related to the war-torn region of Darfur remain in place, crippling the economy.

Mr Hamdok, a well respected economist himself, said that the transitional civilian-led authorities had one chance to put the country back on its feet after the uprising, but was struggling to do so while it remained an international pariah.

He said that because of Sudan’s unique geopolitical and geographical position, bordering seven countries “in a sea of misery” within North Africa, its breakdown would be devastating.