Sudan ministers to ‘tighten’ control on aid agencies

11/04/2013 23:20

The national council of deputy ministers declared on Wednesday it would “tighten the control of the work of international and regional organizations” in Sudan. Secretary General Omar Mahamat Saleh said the council intends to form a panel that will be in charge of “classifying” the agencies active in the country. Next, it will prepare an inventory of all these organizations and ensure that they employ more Sudanese nationals, who according to authorities, “are not given enough space”. The announcement comes after the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) disclosed its new policy stating that any foreign aid organization operating in Sudan should start working in cooperation with the federal government. Just over one month ago, HAC announced the 2013 guidelines for the work of humanitarian agencies operating in Darfur. These included facilitating their travel procedures to the region. Other guidelines dictated that foreign organizations working temporarily in Darfur must acquire a permanent registration with clear technical agreements and source of their projects’ financing.Photo: Parliament building in Khartoum (Radio Dabanga file)Related: Sudan’s humanitarian aid commission announces new Darfur guidelines (1 March 2013)

The national council of deputy ministers declared on Wednesday it would “tighten the control of the work of international and regional organizations” in Sudan.

Secretary General Omar Mahamat Saleh said the council intends to form a panel that will be in charge of “classifying” the agencies active in the country.

Next, it will prepare an inventory of all these organizations and ensure that they employ more Sudanese nationals, who according to authorities, “are not given enough space”.

The announcement comes after the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) disclosed its new policy stating that any foreign aid organization operating in Sudan should start working in cooperation with the federal government.

Just over one month ago, HAC announced the 2013 guidelines for the work of humanitarian agencies operating in Darfur. These included facilitating their travel procedures to the region.

Other guidelines dictated that foreign organizations working temporarily in Darfur must acquire a permanent registration with clear technical agreements and source of their projects’ financing.

Photo: Parliament building in Khartoum (Radio Dabanga file)

Related: Sudan’s humanitarian aid commission announces new Darfur guidelines (1 March 2013)