“Employers” Intend to File Complaints Against Militias

Dr. Yasser Al-Jamiabi, the president of the Sudanese Employers’ Union, called for a reduction in customs duties and an enhancement of maritime surveillance with patrol boats as part of anti-smuggling efforts. He also emphasized the need for bolstering air surveillance to monitor aircraft breaches, strengthening land ports, and deploying advanced camera systems to monitor border crossings. Additionally, he stressed the importance of raising awareness and developing border areas to prevent local residents from resorting to smuggling.

In his presentation at the Customs Smuggling Workshop, Al-Jamiabi highlighted that customs violations are serious crimes that compromise national security, harm the economy, and promote chaos, impacting both domestic and foreign investments. He emphasized the role of customs in enforcing regulations, controlling border crossings, and imposing fees to maintain trade balance.

He underscored the need for research on smuggling, the governance of customs operations, and enhancing coordination among relevant agencies, as well as assessing risks to allow timely interventions and strengthening border controls. He attributed import smuggling to the complexities of import policies and delays in customs clearance, proposing a “single-window” approach to customs to expedite clearance procedures, aiming for a 72-hour turnaround for customs clearance, payment, and release of imports. This approach would also facilitate importing essential goods, such as medications and food products, relying on certificates issued by Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Al-Jamiabi also pointed to the looting of the industrial sector and infrastructure, including the theft of copper and aluminum from government power cables and factories. He noted the theft of production equipment in areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces, such as industrial zones in South Khartoum, Square 35, and Bahri, even extending to Omdurman. He disclosed that the price of stolen copper in Khartoum State is one billion pounds, ten billion pounds in Atbara, and fifty billion pounds at the Egyptian border. The Employers’ Union is determined to file complaints against the looting of the industrial, commercial, and agricultural sectors and the destruction of infrastructure, specifically against the Al-Dagalo gang.