Sudan suspends foreign aid group over interference in internal affairs: official
January 20, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government said it had suspended a foreign aid group active in the conflict-ridden region of Darfur for violating the law and interfering in the internal affairs of the country.
However, a senior government official told Sudan Tribune Tuesday that the closure decision was driven by security reasons, saying that Tearfund had violated article “5” of the Voluntary Work Act which provides that “foreign voluntary organizations must not interfere in the country’s internal affairs”.
The same official, who requested anonymity, said the aid group committed several violations including making reports on the security situation, disclosing the security authorities had previously expelled one of its employees.
According to the official, Tearfund also violated article “16” of the foreign voluntary orgaizations’ registration list which states that the work of the organization must be confined to the activities specified in the registration certificate and provides those activities shall only be amended upon approval of the humanitarian aid commissioner.
He added that Tearfund also violated the country agreement which obliges foreign organizations to respect Sudan’s sovereignty and laws and refrain from undertaking any activities that are incompatible with the Sudanese laws.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Tuesday, the ambassadors of the resident European Union (EU) embassies and Norway in Khartoum said they follow with great concern the reports of closure of offices of Tearfund.
“We are in particular concerned since there has been no official communication from the Government of Sudan giving details about the reasons for this decision – despite several recent requests from the EU and other donors,” the statement read.
It added that Tearfund has been working in Sudan for 10 years, saying it helped more than 300,000 people with life-saving nutrition services and provision of emergency response.
The EU ambassadors further urged the Sudanese government to “continue ensuring that humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in Sudan be guaranteed, in order to save lives and secure livelihoods”.
On its website, the humanitarian group said it has been working in Darfur since 2004, adding they had plans to reach 250,000 IDPs and other vulnerable persons during the year 2015/16.
The Sudanese official expressed reservation on the number of people being helped by Tearfund, describing the numbers mentioned in the EU statement as “incorrect”.
He stressed the Sudanese government continues to work with other partners to provide assistance for the needy, downplaying the impact of Teafund closure on the humanitarian work in the country.
The government official pointed that a committee including representatives from Tearfund has been set up to liquidate the assets of organization.
In a statement issued on 14 December 2015, Tearfund said its offices across Sudan were visited by government officials who requested them to close until further notice.
“Despite efforts to clarify the situation and resume our humanitarian activities, it is with extreme disappointment that we have now received notification from the government that our work in Sudan is to be closed down” the statement reads.
Immediately after the first arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudan’s president Omer al-Bashir in March 2009, Sudan expelled 13 aid groups from Darfur accusing it of collaborating with the war crime courts.
Since then, the activities of foreign aid group in Darfur are strictly controlled and more organizations were evicted through the years.
Sudan refuses to allow new aid groups to work in the region.
The government also banned the access of foreign groups to the rebel-held areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile as well as the establishment of camps for the displaced civilians, stressing the experience of Darfur camps should not be repeated in the two states.
(ST)