On Sunday, an extensive meeting was held, chaired by Khartoum State Governor Ahmed Othman Hamza, with the attendance of the Head of the Committee for Regulating the Presence of Foreigners in the State, Ihab Hashim, the Assistant Commissioner for Refugees, the Director of the Foreigners’ Police, and the Director of the UNHCR Office. The meeting discussed the launch of the deportation process for foreigners who violate immigration laws, starting from May 29th.
The Refugee Commissioner confirmed the completion of logistical preparations for the deportation of the first group of foreigners, involving 10 buses in the initial phase, which will extend over two months. These individuals will be gathered in camps outside Khartoum State before being repatriated to their home countries.
Al-Sadiq revealed that the number of registered refugees in Khartoum State has reached around 16,400 foreigners, stressing that any refugee who does not meet the legal criteria for asylum will be deported.
In this context, the Governor of Khartoum emphasized the importance of implementing the directives of the State Security Committee and the Interior Minister’s decision to deport foreigners and refugees who violate Sudanese laws or to regularize their status. He noted that some foreigners have joined the ranks of the rebel militia fighting against the Sudanese army, as confirmed by intelligence reports and the discovery of foreign bodies among the militia’s dead. The governor called on the UNHCR to fulfill its responsibilities towards the refugees, to help legalize the status of those who qualify for asylum, and to deport the violators.
