Here’s some late, but rather unexpected significant news that’s gone quite unnoticed.
October 13, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government downplayed the significance of changes made to the new generation of Sudanese passports that practically allows its bearer to use it to travel to Israel.
… The old Sudanese passport had a stamp on it reading that it is valid for “All Countries Except Israel”. South Africa is the only other country to be covered by this ban in the history of Sudanese passports during the apartheid era.
Major General Adam Daleel assistant police chief for passports and civil registry told the pro-government Al-Rayaam newspaper in an interview that said that removing the ban was a procedural decision relating to the size of the stamp on the passport.
Daleel stressed that people should not read too much into this step stressing that Sudan is committed to Arab embargo on Israel that commenced in 1958.
The Sudanese official said that removing the stamp should not be understood as endorsing trips by its citizens to the Jewish state.
He noted that the Sudanese national assembly at some point objected to the stamp saying it is a recognition of Israel.
Daleel acknowledged that Sudanese citizens can use the passport to travel to Israel if they reside outside the country but that the authorities will not grant an exit visa to anyone intending to head towards the Jewish state.
The fact that this happened around the same time US announced its new Sudan policy is not a coincidence. Long story short, it’s a strong indication that the Southern government is getting more say in matters that affect all Sudanese including Southerners.
Matters that include Southerners being stuck with a passport that forbids them from traveling to a country they’re supportive of, and that has militarily supported them in the past.
Officials at Khartoum can downplay this as much as they want, but there’s no question that it indicates a small - even if only symbolic - concession towards the Southerners and their demands within the context of the CPA.
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Does this mean that if Sudanese who have arrived in Israel illegally (from Israel’s point of view, i.e., without a valid visa) are sent back to Sudan, they will not be immediately jailed / tortured / whatever simply for trying to come here?
Hmmm good question NC, but not really sure what the legal implications are here in this case.
However, I know the above means that if yours truly wants to now visit Israel, he can do so by going to a country like Canada and applying at the Israeli embassy there for some special entry permit.
That’s a good development, though I doubt it changes as much de-facto as it does de-jure. As long as Sudan’s government considers itself very hostile to Israel, Israeli officials and security personnel will likely treat Sudanese citizens seeking to enter Israel with some degree of suspicion.
Ironically enough, if you’ll try to pass through the legal channels, you’ll likely be treated with more suspicion than someone from Sudan trying to sneak across the Egypt-Israel border - after questioning, they tend to be quickly categorized as refugee status seekers and/or labor infiltrators seeking a better place to earn a living in than Egypt. You, on the other hand, would be a bit of an unknown party, coming from a country that used be a hotbed of Islamist and Islamist-ruled activity, and which is still a hostile country to Israel today… I can’t say for sure, but embassy officials would likely just take the “better safe than sorry” approach and deny any request or application you might make.
Of course, who knows? It might work out for the best.
Interesting comments are being made below that article on Sudanese Tribune.
“South Africa is the only other country to be covered by this ban in the history of Sudanese passports during the apartheid era.”
That must be one of the oddities of history that a country like Sudan would forbid its own citizens from travelling to a country that practices apartheid.
7arami….LAME drima….very LAME
I am Sudanese nationality and Muslim and I do not have the necessary government controls the roaming Hurriyet by Li Alsodaniep good news and change with excellent scientific I respect the Sudanese citizens of our country more
I am Sudanese and really don’t care whether or not Sudanese are allowed to disallowed to go to Israel. Having said that, I must say that I’m glad that Sudanese for once they will be given the choice to make up their own mind.
Sorry! that was “allowed OR disallowed”
Wow. Darfur refugees can enter Israel legally for vacations now. And OF COURSE they are welcome back to Sudan then.
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