Irregular Migration in Sudan: A Legal Perspective

This paper had been presented for promotion at the University of Khartoum. To get the full text please contact the other at babiker69@hotmail.comThis paper looks at irregular migration in Sudan from a legal perspective by examining the national legal framework related to irregular migration in to and through Sudan. It provides analysis of immigration and labour laws, which stipulate certai n sanctions against irregular migrants and also sanctions for the facilitation of irregular migration in to Sudan. In this context, the paper analyzes national laws from the perspective of internati onal human-rights law and asks whether such laws provide enough guarantees for irregular migrants. It also examines regulation for the migration of Sudanese citizens. The paper further addresses the lega l status of three types or categories of migrants in Sudan: (a) irregular labour migrants; (b) transit migrants; and (c) refugees. The paper identifies laws and cases decided by the African Commission on Huma n and Peoples' Rights related to the protection of asylum seekers and refugees and their rights and duties under national a nd international human- rights law. It concludes that Sudanese laws dealing with irregular migration are not adequate despite the fact that Sudan receives huge numbers of irregul ar migrants as well as deports thousands of them each year. Sudan has not taken a proactive role or en tered into bilateral agreements with its neighbours to combat irregular migration