Sudanese Police Reject Al-Burhan’s Decision to Issue Passports for Individuals on the Travel Ban List

The Sudanese police have rejected a directive issued by Army Commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan to grant passports to all Sudanese citizens, including those previously subjected to travel restrictions.

According to Osman Mohamed Al-Hassan Dinkawi, Director of the Department of Passports and Immigration, lifting the ban on issuing passports to individuals on the restricted list requires legal amendments.

On Saturday, Al-Burhan instructed the Passport and Immigration Department at the Ministry of Interior to ensure that no citizen is denied passports or identity documents.

Activists, however, view Al-Burhan’s directive and the subsequent police refusal as part of a political propaganda maneuver. They argue that the sequence of events—issuing the decision, then holding a meeting with the Director-General of the Police, followed by the latter’s reversal citing legal constraints—suggests a deliberate strategy to create political theater.

Critics assert that the authorities in Port Sudan continue to violate fundamental rights, using discriminatory policies as a pretext to deny Sudanese citizens access to essential documents.