Sudan approves judicial cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia

January 10, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese parliament on Wednesday has unanimously ratified an agreement for judicial cooperation with Saudi Arabia which gives nationals of the two countries access to courts where they reside.

The agreement, which is comprised of 28 articles, gives thousands of Sudanese nationals detained in Saudi Arabia equal litigation rights before Saudi courts besides the right for filing charges against any Saudi party, and summoning witnesses from both countries. The agreement also secures the same rights for Saudi nationals in Sudan.

The Sudanese justice minister, Muhamed Bushara Dousa, announced the agreement went into effect, saying that Sudanese embassy in Saudi Arabia was informed to notify the Saudi justice minister to begin implementing litigation procedures for Sudanese detainees.

Dousa disclosed the agreement provided for the cancellation of judicial fees on litigation requests between the two countries besides directly addressing the other country through concerned parties in the Ministry of Justice in order to avoid bureaucratic procedures.

He further affirmed ensuring rights of Sudanese nationals in Saudi Arabia, saying that their remittances wouldn’t be affected by the implementation of the final rulings issued by the judicial authorities in another country.

Sudanese workers abroad especially in the Arab Gulf countries are one of the main sources of hard currency through their remittances they send to their families.

(ST)