Sudan: Information on whether the Sudan government sends "spies" into the Sudanese expatriate community in the Gulf States (e.g. United Arab Emirates or UAE) to spy and report on anti-government activities of Sudanese living abroad
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SDN11091 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sudan: Information on whether the Sudan government sends "spies" into the Sudanese expatriate community in the Gulf States (e.g. United Arab Emirates or UAE) to spy and report on anti-government activities of Sudanese living abroad, 1 June 1992, SDN11091, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac5263.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the Sudan Democratic Gazette, Sudanese diplomats were expelled from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after accusing them of being "engaged in spying upon and harassing the Sudanese community in the UAE" (Feb. 1992, 4). The ambassador himself stated that the embassy was responsible (although he meant in a positive sense) for "observing the conditions of the Sudanese community" (BBC Summary 9 Jan. 1992). The UAE's accusation, however, was that the Sudanese embassy in Abu Dhabi had "carried out activities which harm relations between the two countries, including the fabrication of false reports about the Sudanese community in the UAE" (BBC Summary 7 Jan. 1992). Harassment of Sudanese expatriates by members of the Sudan Embassy in the United Kingdom has also been documented in the past (Sudan Update 24 Sept. 1991).
On the other hand, the Sudanese Bar claimed in November 1991 that it was the UAE authorities who were responsible for the harassment of Sudanese nationals working in the emirates (Ibid. 25 Nov. 1991). As well, the Sudanese government has accused the UAE of harrassing and detaining Sudanese nationals in the Gulf state, allegedly because of Sudan's support for Iraq during the Gulf war (BBC Summary 17 June 1991). In January 1992, Sudan and the UAE declared their respective ambassadors personae non grata after reports alleging that the UAE had tortured Sudanese nationals because of their country's support for Iraq (AFP 19 Jan. 1992; Xinhua 9 Jan. 1992; Middle East News Network 6 Jan. 1992).
Following the recent attack on National Islamic Front leader Dr. Hassan al-Turabi during his passage at the Ottawa airport, the main suspect claimed that he had previously received death threaths from North American Islamist groups (Sudan Update 4 June 1992).
Since 1970, through the promulgation of the Passport and Immigration Regulation Act, the Sudanese government has been monitoring the exit patterns of its nationals (Lavergne 1989, 550). In addition to its obvious economic function, Sudanese emigration to the oil-rich Gulf states is considered an important "safety-valve" permitting potential dissidents to find an immediate financial reward to channel their energies (Owen 1985, 14).
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 19 January 1992. "Libyan Mediation Between Algeria/Iran and Sudan/the UAE." (NEXIS) BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 7 January 1992. "UAE Expels Sudanese Diplomats; Sudan Declares UAE Ambassador Persona non Grata." (NEXIS)
. 9 Jan. 1992. "Sudanese Ambassador Expelled from UAE returns to Khartoum and Issues Statement." (NEXIS)
. 17 June 1991. "UAE Ambassador Summoned to Explain Detentions of Sudanese Nationals." (NEXIS)
Lavergne, Marc. 1989. Le Soudan Contemporain. Paris: Karthala, p. 550.
Middle East News Network. 6 January 1992. "UAE-Sudan Ties at Breaking Point." (NEXIS)
Owen, Roger. 1985. Migrant Workers in the Gulf. London: Minority Rights Group, p. 14.
Sudan Democratic Gazette [London]. February 1992. "Abu Dhabi Blows Whistle on Khartoum," p. 4.
Sudan Update [London]. 4 June 1992. "Incensed."
. 25 November 1991. "Pro-Government Lawyers "Deplore" Abu Dhabi "Harassment"."
. 24 September 1991. "Security Fears."
Xinhua. 9 Jan. 1992. "Sudanese Ambassador to UAE Expelled." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 19 January 1992. "Libyan Mediation Between Algeria/Iran and Sudan/the UAE." (NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 7 January 1992. "UAE Expels Sudanese Diplomats; Sudan Declares UAE Ambassador Persona non Grata." (NEXIS)
. 9 Jan. 1992. "Sudanese Ambassador Expelled from UAE Returns to Khartoum and Issues Statement." (NEXIS)
. 17 June 1991. "UAE Ambassador Summoned to Explain Detentions of Sudanese Nationals." (NEXIS)
Lavergne, Marc. 1989. Le Soudan Contemporain. Paris: Karthala, p. 550.
Middle East News Network. 6 January 1992. "UAE-Sudan Ties at Breaking Point." (NEXIS) Owen, Roger. 1985. Migrant Workers in the Gulf. London: Minority Rights Group, p. 14.
Sudan Democratic Gazette [London]. February 1992. "Abu Dhabi Blows Whistle on Khartoum," p. 4.
Sudan Update [London]. 4 June 1992. "Incensed."
. 25 November 1991. "Pro-Government Lawyers "Deplore" Abu Dhabi "Harassment"."
. 24 September 1991. "Security Fears."
Xinhua. 9 Jan. 1992. "Sudanese Ambassador to UAE Expelled." (NEXIS)
