Disasters, Conflicts and Migration 

For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile. 

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities 

The climate ranges from hyper-arid in the north to tropical wet-and-dry in the far southwest. The most significant climatic variables are rainfall and the length of the dry season. From January to March, there is practically no rainfall countrywide except for a small area in north-western Sudan. By early April up to October the country is affected by heavy rains and thunderstorms.   

El Niño effects often impact the country. It significantly impacted the 2015 rainy season with delayed rains, below-average rainfall and intermittent dry spells. This caused reduced cultivation areas, delayed planting, poor pastures and limited water availability for both people and their livestock. These impacts are threatening essential agricultural and livestock production across Sudan.  

The Airports and Ports (Othma Digna Port) have allocated facilities for the Hadj pilgrims, however short periods of congestion are experienced in the vicinity at the departure and returning points. 

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response 

Government 

All issues concerning any kind of emergency are addressed through the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, who will activate internal resources within the Government of the Republic of Sudan and the relevant ministries.  

There are four Area Security Teams within in the Republic of Sudan. 

Khartoum reporting through to the Designated Officials.  

El Obeid reporting through to the Designated Officials.      

Darfur reporting through UNAMID  

Abyei reporting through UNISFA 

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Sudan Government Contact List 

Humanitarian Community

The humanitarian coordination meeting structure in Sudan is composed of several interlinked coordination fora at strategic and operational levels, both in Khartoum and in the field. Information is systemically shared between these meetings in order to ensure inter-connectivity between them. The following are the humanitarian coordination meetings which OCHA (co-)support: 

• Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)  
• Core Group  
• Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG)     
• Area Humanitarian Coordination Team (A/HCT)        
• Area Inter-Sector Coordination Group (A/ISCG)       
• HC - Donor Consultation Group (DCG)  
• Ambassadorial Country Coordination Forum (CCF)  
• GoS - UN and Partners Humanitarian Coordination 
• GoS Security and Safety Committee meeting  
• OCHA HoO - INGO Forum Steering Committee Meeting     
• HCT Access Working Group (AWG) 
• HCT Information and Advocacy Working Group 
• Bi-monthly Humanitarian Briefing  
• Hybrid meetings (combining HCT, ISCG and donors, as well as government as required). 

There are eleven Clusters/Sectors in Sudan, each with a Sector Lead and a co-Lead from Government side. Meetings are scheduled on a regular basis (bi-weekly, monthly or ad hoc). Inter-Sectoral Coordination Group (ISCG) meetings are held bi-weekly and chaired by OCHA, who reports to the Humanitarian Country Team. 

SECTOR LEAD ORGANISATION.  

Co-ordination and Common Services UN OCHA  

Education - UNICEF  

Food Security and Livelihoods FA0 – WFP 

Health - WHO 

Logistics and Emergency Telecommunications (LET) - WFP 

Emergency Shelter& Non-Food Items (ES&NFI) - UNHCR ES/NFI  

Nutrition - UNICEF 

Protection - UNHCR 

Return Recovery and (Re)-Integration - UNDP 

Refugee Multi Sector - UNHCR 

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene - UNICEF  

For additional data visit https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/sudan  

The Sudan INGO steering committee represents INGOs in Sudan. 

The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), functions as the highest country-level international humanitarian coordination platform. The HCT meets on a monthly basis (or on ad-hoc when needed) and involves the following organizations: 

1. WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHABITAT, UNHCR, IOM, FAO, WHO, OCHA, 2 x INGO Forum SC (designated by INGO community in Sudan), one Islamic organization (IICO) and one national organisation (SCOVA) as members.  
2. ICRC, IFRC, SRCS, MSF and UNAMID as observers.  
3. The Deputy HC will participate through tele-conference or in person when needed. 
4. When appropriate, other institutions and agencies may be invited to participate in HCT meetings, or a joint meeting will be organised as necessary. 

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Sudan Humanitarian Agency Contact List

Monitoring and inspections of cargo and processes

Sudan has no mandatory pre-shipment inspection. However, all importers need to be registered at the Import/Export Registry at the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Usually importers are advised to have a Pre-shipment Inspection Certificate issued by International cargo Inspectors registered by Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organization (SSMO). Therefore, importers or appointed agents must present SSMO requirements. 

Sudan does not apply any quantitative import registrations; all goods can be imported to Sudan except those goods that are prohibited by social values or security considerations. Sometimes a double check inspection might be conducted by the SSMO. 

For cargo clearance process; the SSMO must take a sample from all cargo, then send the sample of the selected items to the laboratory to be analysed, and finally issue a certificate upon approval.  

Export and Import Procedures - SSMO 

The SSMO prepares, adopts and applies the standard specifications for the local and imported products and services. SSMO objective is the protection of the national economy and the Sudanese population in the fields of health, environment, safety and commercial forgery.   

Concerning Sudanese imports, the role of SSMO is sequenced as follows:  

1. Preparation of standard specifications and their approval.  
2. Coordination with the related bodies (Bank of Sudan, Ministry of the Foreign Trade and the Businessmen Association). These bodies are provided with standard specifications to guarantee the arrival of goods that are in conformity with Sudanese standards.   
3. To implement standard specifications on imports in all country’s entry points to ensure conformity and respect these specifications.   

The procedures undertaken by Port Sudan branch for the Sudanese imports begin with the concept of Conformity assessment as follows:  

1. Procedures starts with checking and inspecting all documents, which are submitted for any operation whether technical or commercial. This process makes sure that requirements of trade and standard specifications are fulfilled, depending on the type of the imports, as follows: 
   1. The imports of regulated products, requires special documents (the certificate of international surveyor) and it is usually subjected to conditional temporary release system.  
   2. Imports that requires cooperation with competent Bodies, such as pesticides, seeds and drugs …etc.  
   3. Imports specific to some Institutes and Ministries (e.g. the Ministry of Energy).   
   4. General diverse imports.  
2. Field and physical inspection to make sure for the general status of the consignment and the conformity of the label card with the submitted documents.    
3. Withdrawal of samples for laboratory analysis procedures to ensure its compliance to standard specifications.  
4.  Issuing of conformity or non-conformity certificate according to the above-mentioned procedures.  

Other Activities: 

1. To present a complete set of services for the above-mentioned stages in the State entry points in Osefe, Sawakin, free zone Area, Southern ports, Northern ports and laboratories at headquarters aiming to facilitate trade and to gain customer satisfaction by implementing the various quality systems.   
2. Starting to link all these areas electronically so as to reduce time of release and to facilitate the flow of trade, besides the complete cooperation with the related bodies at the Seaports.  
3. Effective participation with the Consultative Council which embraces the Ministry of Cabinet, the Seaports Society (Seaport Authority, Customs and all Regulatory bodies, and Ship agents).  
4. To enforce Resolution no. 119 year 2008, which aimed at facilitating the flow of exports and imports through a single window system, and to unify all regulatory bodies under one single umbrella.  

Export procedures - SSMO         

1. Review of commercial documents issued by the related bodies such as the Bank of Sudan, Ministry of foreign trade (export contract).    
2. Review of technical documents issued from multiple bodies according to the type of export:  
   1. Health Certificate for the live animals and sorting leather.  
   2. Certificate issued from Geology Corporation for minerals.  
   3. Animal Resource Certificate for fish.     
   4. Sieving Certificate for exported seeds.  
   5. Steaming Certificates for agricultural crops issued by Plant Quarantine Administration. 
3. Field inspection for exports and ensure their conformity to standard specifications.  
4. Monitoring and follow-up of sieving of exported seeds and ensure conformity label cards to standard specifications. 
5. Subject Sudanese exports to laboratory analysis in addition to the field inspection to ensure compliance to standard specifications and thereby issue the certificate of conformity.  
6. Taking into account the terms of contracts agreed upon between buyer and seller and ensure their implementation. 
7. Follow up the final packaging of exports into containers and ships.  

General observations:  

1. The implementation of guidelines and regulations issued by international organizations such as ISO, Codex, AIDMO, WTO, etc. must be ensured.  
2. Accreditation of laboratories especially for the Sudanese exports is to be considered. 
3. Rehabilitation and training of human resources to cope up with international techniques and implement the electronic system in applications and procedures to reduce the release time for imports and exports is needed.  
4. Implementation of quality systems is needed.  

Guide for Conformity Assessment - Procedure & Standards Purchase 

Primary Conformity Assessment

Primary procedure refers to a process aimed at checking if the documents of a certain product are compliant with Sudanese standards. 

Requested Documents 

Mandatory Documents:  

1. Request for Conformity Assessment 
   1. The request must be in headed paper and stamped 
   2. The request must be addressed to the manager of standards department  
   3. The request must be checked for compliance and purpose to apply C.A.P to the product
2. Certificate of Analysis (or Catalogue of Technical Standards in the case of equipment, and machines). It is given when the conformity assessment has been performed. 
   1. The certificate must be in headed paper and stamped, including the name & address of the lab where the analysis was performed 
   2. Certificate must contain name of product meant for conformity assessment  
   3. Date of issue of the certificate must be clearly defined. 
   4. Country of origin must be clearly stated. 
   5. Catalogue of Technical Standards must contain a full description of the product, indicate the name of the manufacturing company and indicate the country where it was produced. 

Non-Mandatory Documents:

1. A proforma invoice stating the name of product and the compliance with the Certificate of analysis or the Catalogue of Technical standards.  

Additional Documents: 

This kind of documents is specific to certain food commodities in addition to the above-mentioned documents.  

• A permit from ministry of Animal Resources & Fishery
• A health certificate authenticated from a Sudanese Embassy in the exporting country
• A certificate for shelf life (either separate or included in the above documents)
• Certificate of radiation analysis
• Certificate for Halal slaughter from the origin (in case of chicken & red meat) 
• Certificate of freedom from GMO
• Trading invoice 

Steps to be taken for the Conformity Assessment certificate: 

1. Registering the order
2. Pay the required fee
3. If the product is not compliant to the standards, the case will be will be submitted to the Technical Committee for consultation.

If the product is compliant to the standards, procedure takes 24hrs. When the conformity of the product is submitted to a technical committee, the procedure may be longer.  

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratories’ contact details, please see the following links: 

4.1 Sudan Government Contact List

4.3 Sudan Laboratory and Quality Testing Companies Contact List

Duties and Tax Exemption 

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please see the following link: 4.1 Sudan Government Contact List

Emergency Response: 

Exemption applications must be requested prior to an importation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

In an emergency scenario the process can be expedited, however, the process flows must be adhered to. 

On the issuance of a permit, the ‘White Copy ‘is sent to the Importer, the ‘Yellow’ copy by the MOFA to Customs Head Quarters then to the Port of Entry.                                                                                                                                               

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response):   

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure:  

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements 

Customs Clearance 

General Information  

Customs Clearance Document Requirements 

The customs processes and documentation requirements may change from time to time, with minimum pre-advice or amendments being gazetted. Therefore, it is important for clearing agents to regularly check with customs/MoFA if there are any recent changes or amendments. 

For commercial cargos where exemption is not provided, custom payment is made by cash or cheque. There is no delay in the importation of goods through the customs exemption process.   

Weight and Value Band 

The value, cargo description on the commercial invoice and the packing declaration must reconcile to the Air waybill and / or the Bill of Lading. Any discrepancy between the supporting documents may delay the clearance or require a new set of documents.  

Customs in Sudan except the US$ amount shown on documentation. 

Transit Regime 

Traffic is consigned to the Port of Entry of the country that will be the gateway to transit to the destination country. 

Prior to the arrival of the vessel, permission to transit the Republic of Sudan must be obtained from Humanitarian Aid Commissioner (HAC) and Customs. 

A set of documents must be sent to the Port of Entry prior to the vessels arrival. 

The documents should comprise of the following: 

Sea freight shipments- Original documents 

1. Bill of Lading (showing cargo in transit and destination country) 
2. Supplier Invoice(s) 
3. Packing list 
4. Import Declaration Form (IDF) from the importer 
5. Duties and Taxes Exemption Certificates, if any 
6. Permit for import and transit of food, Agriculture products, drugs and pharmaceutical 

Additional documents required for specific imports 

1. Certificate of Origin 
2. Phytosanitary Certificates for imports of agricultural products 
3. Relevant documents from country of final destinations. 
4. Permission granted through Humanitarian Aid Commissioner (HAC) and Customs. 

In addition to the outlined documents, any specific documentation requirements, import permits from the country of final destination, should also be included to expedite the transit clearance through the port. The vessel enters the harbour and the consignment is cleared for transit to the country of destination, all customary marine and cargo handling dues are paid to the Ports of Sudan Corporation. The Clearing Agent makes certain all cargo is pre-cleared prior to the vessels arrival. 

The Clearing Agent lodges a cheque as security with customs based on the value of the consignment in transit, this cheque will be returned when the consignment has left the country and tonnage reconcile back to the vessels outturn tonnage at the Port Sudan. 

The clearing agent arranges for Insurance to cover any losses in favor of Sudan Customs and Excise, billing to WFP the cost of the insurance cover  

Transport Waybills are compiled by WFP and given to the clearing agent who issues the manifests in consultation with the Road Transporter. 

The manifest and Waybills are submitted to Customs and permission is granted to proceed. 

The traffic moves in convoys accompanied by a Customs officer from the Anti-Smuggling Unit, all costs incurred for the customs officer is paid by the Transporter. 

Transporters from Port Sudan use vehicles with a carrying capacity of 70 metric tons; the Port Sudan road trucks are transhipped on 30 MT road trucks at El Obeid or Nyala according to the final destination. 

On arrival at the exit Sudan board post, transit documentation is presented to Customs, the tonnage verified and vehicle/s permitted to proceed. 

The schedules (Form 6) from the exit point Customs return to Port Sudan to allow Customs and the Clearing agent to reconcile tonnage dispatched to vessel's outturn. 

File closed by Customs and cheque lodged for security returned to Clearing Agent.