Sudanese River Transport Company Resumes Operations After Years of Inactivity
The Director-General of the Sudanese River Transport Company, Anwar Ishaq Suleiman, has announced that the company has resumed operations after years of inactivity.
Speaking to Alina, he said the company is wholly Sudanese and 100% state-owned, with the Ministry of Finance holding a 75% stake and the National Fund for Supporting the Armed Forces owning the remaining 15%.
He explained that the company had ceased operations because of the war, losing all its vehicles and both its movable and fixed assets. This resulted in employees being neglected and denied their financial entitlements. In addition, the river navigation route between Sudan and South Sudan was suspended, while the company’s fleet was destroyed as a result of the war and other factors.
He added that after his appointment as Director-General, his first priority was to address the situation of the company’s employees and retirees, who had not received their dues throughout the preceding period. He therefore developed a plan to rebuild the company, restore its operations, improve conditions for its workforce, and pay outstanding entitlements owed to retirees.
He noted that he had held discussions on the matter with Finance Minister Dr. Jibril Ibrahim, following which employees’ salaries were paid, retirees received their financial entitlements, and the company’s outstanding debts were settled.
He added:
“We are ready to resume trade exchanges between Sudan and South Sudan. We have now drawn up plans to restore and rehabilitate the company and enhance the capabilities of its workforce.
“River transport is one of the important sectors worldwide, and river navigation contributes to Sudan’s national economy.
“The road ahead is long, but we have made a start.”
