EU and UK want to Sudan return seized humanitarian assets

September 9, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — European Union Commission and United Kingdom asked Sudanese government to return assets of aid groups it seized after their expulsion last march. The donors said wanting to decide in which projects it can be used.

On March 4, following the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for the President Omer Al-Bashir, Sudan forced 13 international aid groups to depart from the country and banned three other local NGOs.

Last month three NGOs– MSF-France and Holland and Oxfam –said Sudanese authorities had taken some $5.2 million from their money in Sudanese banks and equipments.

After the expulsion of the 13 groups, Sudan said their vehicles, equipments to these local groups would be allotted to local groups designed to replace them. Also Sudanese authorities said would pay the local staff working with the 13 aid groups for six months from the seized money.

However, the European Commission and Britain told Reuters yesterday they want these assets they had donated to be returned, indicating it is up to them, as donors, to designate other humanitarian projects where these assets can be used.

But Sudanese state minister for humanitarian affairs rejected their demand saying he was not bound by any direct contract with the donors. He further said that in accordance to Sudanese regulations assets of expelled NGOs should be used by other groups working in the field.

Following their eviction last March, some aid groups sought to discuss their assets with the Sudanese authorities but Khartoum refused to open discussions with them saying they had signed an agreement dealing with such eventuality and accepted it.

(ST)