Sea Ports Authority Explains Delays in Cargo Unloading
Sudan’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Saif al-Nasr al-Tijani Haroun, stressed that any delay in port operations directly harms the economy and citizens’ livelihoods.
During an inspection visit Tuesday to several specialized ports in Port Sudan, aimed at monitoring operational performance and addressing field challenges, the minister underscored the importance of presenting these issues to the Cabinet. He called for removing administrative bottlenecks while strengthening the Port Authority’s jurisdiction over land and facilities inside the Green Port.
The Director-General of the Sea Ports Authority, Eng. Consultant al-Jilani Mohamed Jilani, attributed slow unloading procedures to the multiplicity of decision-making centers and institutional overlap among port authorities. He also pointed to challenges affecting four vessels waiting offshore—including relief ships—whose unloading was delayed after the Standards Authority raised concerns over moisture-damaged cargo.
The minister instructed that land currently controlled by other entities inside the Green Port be returned to state authority to improve efficiency and serve national interests.
Officials noted that the local port community holds the port administration directly accountable for any operational failure, reflecting public awareness of the facility’s critical role and the need to empower it free from bureaucratic obstacles.
The minister confirmed the visit marked the beginning of broad administrative and operational reforms in coordination with all relevant bodies, with the aim of improving port performance and facilitating exports and imports in support of the national economy.
