Warnings Against Granting External Parties Access to Sudan’s Trade Data
Former Head of the Importers’ Chamber at the Sudanese Chamber of Commerce, Hashim Al-Fadil, criticized the Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) system officially adopted by Sudan Customs.
Al-Fadil stated that customs authorities have imposed what he described as “massive fees” on importers through a foreign company, reportedly under the pretext of digitizing information. He questioned the value added by the company, explaining that its role is limited to creating an online platform where suppliers or exporters upload invoices, certificates of origin, and bills of lading, and pay $150 per container in exchange for a certificate.
He raised concerns about the possibility of invoice manipulation within Sudan and questioned the level of verification carried out by the company. Al-Fadil warned that the system grants a foreign entity full access to detailed data on Sudan’s imports, asking whether customs would accept invoices priced below the recorded figures.
He argued that the measure effectively represents an increase in imposed fees, noting that all platforms—regardless of name—carry charges, including import permits, IM forms, customs duties, port fees, and standards fees. He emphasized that such costs are ultimately borne by citizens, not traders, warning that increasing fees to boost revenues would likely backfire, as traders may reduce or abandon imports altogether. He urged policymakers to consider citizens’ dire post-war conditions and the loss of assets and savings.
