{"id":181943,"date":"2015-10-07T21:31:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-07T21:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/eu-sudan-agree-to-continue-fight-against-human-trafficking\/"},"modified":"2015-10-07T21:31:00","modified_gmt":"2015-10-07T21:31:00","slug":"eu-sudan-agree-to-continue-fight-against-human-trafficking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/eu-sudan-agree-to-continue-fight-against-human-trafficking","title":{"rendered":"EU, Sudan agree to continue fight against human trafficking"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sudanese Minister of Interior, Gen. Esmat Abdelrahman Zeinelabdin, met with the head of the EU Delegation to Sudan, Ambassador Tomas Ulicny, at his office today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a press release today, the EU Delegation to Sudan stated that the meeting, ahead of the Valletta EU-Africa Summit on Migration in Malta on 11 November, confirmed the EU’s full support of Sudan’s efforts to combat human trafficking and irregular migration.<\/p>\n

During the meeting, the EU Ambassador highlighted how managing migration flows can only be effective through international cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination. He therefore said that cooperation on migration may be an opportunity to strengthen economic and political relations between the EU and Sudan.<\/p>\n

Ulicny emphasised that the central and immediate objective of EU’s current activities on migration is to save lives and prevent the exploitation of migrants. In this respect, the EU confirmed its support to further strengthen the capacities of the Sudanese authorities in charge of combating human trafficking. This support would be complementary to development assistance especially with regard to refugees, the displaced, and host communities.<\/p>\n

The Minister of Interior welcomed the EU support to Sudan on migration, and confirmed the government’s commitment to fully cooperate with the EU on this matter.<\/p>\n

Eastern Sudan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eastern Sudan is known to be a particular hotspot for human traffickers, who systematically abduct Eritreans and Ethiopians from refugee camps in the region. The asylum seekers are then ‘sold’ to criminal gangs and subjected to torture, in order to pressure their relatives to pay large sums of money for their release.<\/p>\n

Kidnapping and trafficking of refugees but also of Sudanese citizens increased significantly in eastern Sudan’s Kassala state this year. Police released 47 abducted refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia near Kassala town on 27 June. On 4 June, a representative of the UNHCR reported that unknown gunmen abducted 14 Eritrean asylum seekers near a refugee camp in the same state.<\/p>\n

International organisations earlier referred to the involvement of Sudanese army and security officials in human trafficking.<\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/em><\/p>\n

Police in eastern Sudan release 47 abducted refugees<\/a> (29 June 2015)<\/p>\n

‘Kidnappers of Eritrean refugees demand ransom’: Brother of victim<\/a> (8 June 2015)<\/p>\n

Eritrean asylum seekers abducted in eastern Sudan<\/a> (5 June 2015)<\/p>\n

Army officers charged with human trafficking in eastern Sudan<\/a> (28 April 2015)<\/p>\n

‘Human trafficking on the increase in eastern Sudan’: MP<\/a> (21 October 2014)<\/p>\n

‘Sudan's top officials cooperate in human trafficking’: report<\/a> (5 December 2013)<\/p>\n

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