VIENNA (Nabaa Sudan) – Sudan has called on the international community to strengthen cooperation in combating transnational organized crime, warning of its growing links with armed conflicts and the opportunities these create for the expansion of human trafficking, migrant smuggling and illicit drug trafficking.
The Head of the Public Prosecution and Chairman of the Investigation and Inquiry Committee into violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, Osama Haroun Al-Sayed Al-Shabik, said Sudan continues to develop its legal and institutional frameworks to combat organized crime despite the exceptional circumstances facing the country.
He made the remarks in Sudan’s statement, which he delivered as head of the country’s delegation participating in the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, held in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
The statement outlined provisions of Sudan’s Criminal Act criminalizing the establishment, management and participation in organized criminal groups, as well as penalties for related offences, including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, cyber fraud, and crimes affecting the environment and natural resources.
It highlighted the growing connection between armed conflicts and organized crime, explaining that wars weaken institutions and create a conducive environment for criminal activities to expand amid declining border controls and increasing security vulnerabilities.
The statement warned that continued external support for the rebel militia contributes to prolonging the conflict and heightens the risk of transnational criminal networks emerging, threatening regional security and stability. It called for combating organized crime to be incorporated into international efforts aimed at limiting the impact of armed conflicts on neighbouring countries.
Sudan called for stronger international cooperation to support countries affected by armed conflicts and build their institutional capacities. It also urged the development of mechanisms to trace, confiscate and recover criminal proceeds, alongside enhanced cooperation in international criminal justice.
The statement stressed the importance of incorporating the risks posed by organized crime in conflict and post-conflict settings into programmes for peacebuilding, strengthening the rule of law and crime prevention.
At the conclusion of its statement, Sudan reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation with States Parties and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention and its protocols and to strengthen the rule of law in ways that contribute to security, stability and sustainable development.
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