Sudan refugee body accused of corruption, mismanagement
March 19, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s Commission for Refugees (COR) is facing accusations of widespread corruption, irregular appointments, and violations of civil service laws, according to internal documents and letters obtained by Sudan Tribune. The allegations come amid ongoing instability in Sudan following the outbreak of conflict in April 2023.
The documents, including appointment lists and internal correspondence, reveal a pattern of violations of Sudanese civil service laws and administrative regulations. Key concerns include the appointment of unqualified individuals to senior positions, the improper dismissal and reinstatement of staff, and interference by the Interior Ministry in the commission’s operations.
One document, dated March 16, 2025, lists recent appointments made by the current acting commissioner, Mohamed Yassin al-Tuhami. It shows the appointment of an individual identified as “S.A.” to a senior legal position within the commission’s state affairs office despite allegedly lacking the required legal expertise.
The same list details the appointment of the Um Rakuba refugee camp supervisor, identified as “A.B.M.,” to lead the Khartoum registration team, a move that appears to contradict established appointment procedures. Another case involves the appointment of “T.M.” to a lower-grade position than the one he previously held, also a violation of regulations.
Multiple COR employees, speaking to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, confirmed the irregularities. They allege that some COR offices in Sudanese states are being run by retired contractors, which is against civil service regulations. They also cited instances of employees being demoted, receiving severance packages, and then being rehired to different roles without open competition while qualified government employees remained out of work.
One employee pointed to alleged past misconduct by the current executive director, including the unauthorized disclosure of documents and the impersonation of a military rank.
The employees also claim that Interior Minister Khalil Saireen has been directly intervening in COR’s decisions, exceeding his legal authority, which is limited to a supervisory role under the 2014 Asylum Act. One example cited was the minister’s alleged intervention in reinstatement of a dismissed employee.
Sudan Tribune was unable to verify all the claims independently. The Interior Ministry and the COR did not respond to requests for comment.
The documents also raise concerns about former commissioner Musa Atron’s tenure, accusing him of overseeing “the largest administrative corruption operation” in the commission’s history. This allegedly included unlawful dismissals and demotions, despite the fact that salaries and positions are funded by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Geneva. The current acting commissioner is accused of refusing to address grievances related to these past actions.
In August 2024, the documents allege, senior officials bypassed procedures to issue foreigner protection cards, further undermining the commission’s integrity.
Following the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, COR issued a directive to distribute employees based on their regions, but employees say this was not implemented. Later, in November 2024, a decision was made to lay off all employees, citing funding shortages, despite salaries being provided by UNHCR.
The dismissed employees claim they appealed to the Interior Minister, who established an investigative committee that reportedly confirmed significant administrative irregularities. They also allege nepotism within the commission, citing the appointment of relatives of the Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs to various positions.
Displaced COR employees call for the Sovereign Council to intervene, investigate the allegations, reinstate dismissed staff, and appoint a new commissioner based on merit and civil service rules.