On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Sudan LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Sudan country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Sudan COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Sudan.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Sudan is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Sudan ratified the 1951 Convention on Refugees and its 1967 Protocol in 1974 and the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa in 1978 but has not ratified the AU Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (the Kampala Convention). Sudan adopted the ICGLR Declaration on Eradication of Statelessness in the Great Lakes Region in 2017. However, Sudan is not party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (the 1954 Convention) nor the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (1961 Convention). Sudan is also not party to the Convention on Eradication of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). In addition, the two ICGLR Protocols on IDPs (Protocol on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons and Protocol on the Property Rights of Returning Persons 2006) are legally binding for Sudan.
The Republic of the Sudan is a country of origin, transit, and destination, geographically positioned along the main migratory routes from West and East Africa to Europe. Sudan is a place of origin for migration due to on-going conflicts and related insecurities, as well as a stagnated economic situation marked by widespread unemployment. At the same time, Sudan is both a temporary and a long-term host country to a large population of refugees and asylum seekers. Sudan receives a constant inflow of South Sudanese nationals since the separation of the two countries in July 2011, due in part to the on-going dispute over the Abyei territory (source Integral Human Development ).
Sudan hosts 1.1 million refugees, one of the largest refugee populations in Africa. South Sudanese represent more than 70% (800,000) of the refugees in Sudan, followed by 126,000 Eritrean refugees (11%). The country also counts more than 3 million internally displaced persons, mostly in the Darfur region that has experienced a volatile security situation for almost two decades. Since the outbreak of violence in Ethiopia’s Tigray region in November 2020, Sudan welcomed and assisted 58,000 Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers. The refugees are mainly hosted in two camps, Um Rakuba and Tunaydbah, in eastern Sudan.
The 1994 Passports and Immigration Act serves as the primary legislation on immigration in Sudan. The 1974 Regulation of the Asylum Act is the primary legal framework for refugees. A copy of the act is available in Arabic.
In 2014, the Sudanese parliament passed the Combating of Human Trafficking Act, Sudan’s first law to specifically address human trafficking.
Legal aid organisations
Address: Khartoum East, Eltigani elmahi Street, Khartoum , SUDAN, P.O. Box 2348, A/C 11111-MUTAWINAT-GROUP
Tel: +249-183595702
Email: mutawinat@hotm ail.com
More than 60% of Mutinawat’s direct legal aid is targeted to displaced and refugee women and their training of paralegals was designed mainly to assist displaced and rural women. An organisation established to provide legal aid to women and paralegal training program for community leaders. Mutawinat also runs literacy, human rights, and legal rights awareness campaigns; fosters communication between women’s groups in Africa; works to eradicate FGM by developing and implementing new legal and educational strategies; and assists displaced and rural women. The organization also conducts and publishes studies and research concerning women’s development. Samia El-Hashmi is also a WRRC Programme’s Women, Inheritance, and Property Rights working group member.
Address: Ettiar Murad Street, Sakta Building- 6th Floor, Khartoum
Email: rmekkawi@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: + 249 015 512 9595
PLACE provides free legal services to vulnerable groups in Sudan, including women, children, refugees, and internally displaced persons. The organization offers legal representation, advice, and education on a range of legal issues, including human rights violations, land disputes, and labor rights.
In addition to its legal aid work, PLACE also conducts research and advocacy on human rights issues in Sudan. The organization has published reports on a range of human rights topics, including gender-based violence, child labor, and access to justice.
Website
Address: Emirates Building Street 21 Alsouq Al-Arabi, Khartoum
Tel: 011-666-8888/ +(249) – 1230 – 0000
Email: info@dfd.sd
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday, 9am – 5pm
The Sudanese Defenders Center for Legal Aid (SDCLA) is a non-governmental organization that provides legal aid and support to vulnerable individuals and communities in Sudan. The organization offers legal representation to individuals facing criminal charges or human rights abuses, advocates for legal reforms, provides legal training and education and builds the capacity of local organizations and communities to advocate for their rights. Overall, the SDCLA plays a crucial role in promoting access to justice and protecting the rights of vulnerable individuals and communities in Sudan.
Khartoum: Ahmed Kheir Street (North of Farouk Cemetery), Khartoum, Sudan
Tel: +249183471013
Fax: +249183473101
Email: SUDKH@unhcr.org
Kalassa: Wali Street,, Block 12, Plot 213, Kassala, Sudan
Tel: +249 411 829 003
Fax: +249 411 829 001
UNHCR works closely with more than 40 partners to meet the needs of the forcibly displaced, seeking solutions while pursuing peaceful coexistence among communities. UNHCR provides counseling services to refugees and asylum seekers in Sudan. Their services aim to help refugees cope with the trauma of displacement and build resilience. UNHCR’s counseling services cover a wide range of issues, including mental health, gender-based violence, child protection, and community-based psychosocial support. UNHCR has offices in several locations in Sudan, including Khartoum, Gedaref, Kassala, and White Nile.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Alight provides lifesaving services to some 200,000 people in East Sudan in Kassala and Gedaref states, providing mainly health care and water, sanitation and hygiene support to Eritrean refugees in 5 different refugee camps. In the past, in November 2020, Alight’s team was among the first organizations to respond to the influx of Ethiopian refugees in Sudan’s Gedaref state. Alight helped to re-established Um Rakuba and Tunaydbah refugee camps, and is a lead responder in health, nutrition, WASH and protection services.
Website
Tel: +249 183 248 061
IMC provides mental health and psychosocial support services to refugees in Sudan. Their services include individual counseling, group therapy, and community-based support. IMC’s counseling services focus on helping refugees manage stress, anxiety, and depression, and address issues related to trauma and violence. IMC has offices in Khartoum and Gedaref.
Website
Address: Manshia, Block G, House
No. 1/38 Khartoum, Sudan
Tel: +249 156 554 600/1/2, +249 156 554 605 (Fax)
Email: iomkhartoum@iom.int
As the leading inter-governmental organization promoting humane and orderly migration, IOM plays a key role to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through different areas of intervention that connect both humanitarian assistance and sustainable development. Across Sudan, IOM provides a comprehensive response to the humanitarian needs of migrants, internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities.
Website
Address: Street No 33 House No 16 Amarat – New Extension P.O. Box 1831 Khartoum
Tel: (+249) 183 476 464
Mobile: (+249) 912150736
Since 1978, the ICRC has worked in Sudan to aid those impacted by the conflicts in Darfur, the Blue Nile, and South Kordofan while also advancing international humanitarian law (IHL). The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) supports hospitals and health facilities with equipment and supplies, works with local water authorities to increase people’s access to clean water, and supports the authorities in charge of providing rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. These activities are all part of the SRCS’s current work, either independently or in collaboration. It offers emergency aid to displaced individuals in conflict zones, distributes seeds and farming supplies to farmers, and immunises cattle owned by pastoralists against illness. It has facilitated the release of inmates upon request from the parties and is aiding in the reunion of families torn apart by conflict or displacement.
It’s provided former detainees clothes and paid for their transport to go home
Website
Address: Block 8, Apartment 1, Plot No. 141, El Riyadh Street (112), P.O. Box 13067, Khartoum, Sudan
Tel: +249 15 52 94 818
Email: easternafrica@jrs.net
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation with a mission to accompany, serve and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. JRS provides education, psychosocial support, pastoral care, peace-education, livelihoods services and emergency relief and is involved in human rights protection and advocacy activities on different levels. In Mellit (Darfur), JRS runs an educational programme and capacity building within schools. Educational materials and water storage are also provided and JRS is involved in permanent construction and rehabilitation of classrooms. JRS also provides adult literacy and life skills training
Website
Tel: +249 (0) 99 98 25 695
Email: info@nrc.no
Providing immediate, emergency assistance, while also working to find lasting solutions. Implementing programming across six competencies, integrating cash and markets-based approaches, advocacy, digital modes of assistance, and co-leading various humanitarian coordination platforms. Providing information and legal advice to displacement-affected individuals on housing, land, property, legal identity and employment law and procedures. Managing camps to enhance communication with communities and supporting inclusive coordination in urban non-formal camp and spontaneous self-settled site environments.
Website (international)
Address of War Child Holland in Sudan: Block 81, Gireaif West, Opposite Qatar Islamic Society Mosque, Khartoum
Tel: +249 912161904
Email: info.Sudan@warchild.nl
In Sudan, the work of War Child Canada improves economic resilience and promotes education, empowerment and conflict resolution. It supports livelihoods by helping farmers, pastoralists and communities. In West Darfur, War Child Canada ensures children are able to keep learning through Accelerated Learning Programming (ALP). ALP allows students to complete two years of schooling in one and re-enter the formal education system quickly. It also trains teaching staff and conducts youth empowerment programming. Similarly, War Child Holland is working in the region to ensure the children have access to education and implements a program on e-learning.
Sudan LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Sudan.
Sudan COI
Find Sudan country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023