The head of the Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) on Sunday clarified that the Finance Ministry is fully aware that monies paid by commercial airlines for flying over Sudan’s airspace are deposited in foreign banks due to sanctions in place.
Ibrahim Adlan was responding to allegations that these funds are still handled without the government’s knowledge as was the case in the administration of former president Omar al-Bashir.
According to Adlan, who spoke to local media outlet Sudan Tribune, a foreign company is charged with collecting these payments on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority as the government is unable to open an account abroad due to economic sanctions.
The company, which he did not name, then transfers the collected charges to the SCAA’s account at the Khartoum Bank, Bahrain Branch.
Even though the United States lifted sanctions on Sudan in 2017, Sudanese banks are still unable to open U.S. dollar accounts as the nation is still listed as a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States. Moreover, American and most European banks are cautious of secondary sanctions still in place against people linked to the conflict in Darfur.
Adlan said that the money received is used to fund services provided for by the Sudanese government and to ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel. The funds are also used to purchase medicine, fuel and even pay for educational scholarships and Sudan’s contributions to regional and international organisations.
He added that the ministry controlled all expenditures and received any surplus amounts.
