Sudan’s SCPS appeals to the presidency to lift ban on its activities

July 24, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Consumer Protection Society (SCPS) has called on the presidency to allow it resume its activities and return its property confiscated by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

SCPS secretary general, Yasir Merghani, said they take the opportunity of the establishment of the African consumer rights body to call upon the presidency to return their property confiscated by NISS on 28 May and allow them resume their work.

Last May, NISS apprehended Merghani and activist Nasreen Mustafa for organizing a forum on incidents of sexual harassment and child rape taking place inside school buses.

It also seized copies of 10 newspapers and suspended four of them indefinitely for covering the forum.

In a press release on Friday, Merghani demanded the parliament to approve the national consumer protection act which was deposited to the National Assembly since December 2014, saying they wouldn’t spare any efforts to defend the Sudanese consumer against all kinds of fraud.

The SCPS was formally established in 1998, it has been very vocal on consumer rights issues and corruption in regards to consumer goods. SCPS has been advocating for strong consumer protection legislation in Sudan.

Meanwhile, the founding conference of the African Union consumer rights body has concluded its meeting in the Chadian capital, N’djamena on Friday.

The chairman of the SCPS, Nasr al-Din Sholgami, has been elected for the executive committee of the African Union consumer rights body which is comprised of seven members.

According to the press release, the SCPS expressed its strong support to the African Union consumer rights body, saying it would offer great services to the African consumer.

(ST)