Sallina

News From ``Gedab Analysis``

For PFDJ, Yesterday's Target Is Today's Income Opportunity

Awate - Gedab News Analysis

By gedab news analysis - Sep 13, 2008

In collaboration with the government of Sudan, Eritrean officials in Sudan have set up a lucrative shop in Sudan to provide passport and visa services to Eritreans who crossed the border to Sudan illegally.

In exchange for Euros and US dollars, the Eritrean embassy in Khartoum issues Eritrean passports to escapees who secure visas (mostly to the Arab Gulf states.) Ironically, the Eritrean citizens would have been shot on sight if the Eritrean government border patrol had spotted them days earlier.

Once a visa is secured for a foreign country, they need to get an exit visa from Sudan's immigration office. Following its reconciliation with Eritrean officials, the Sudanese government has instructed its immigation office not to issue exit visas to Eritreans unless they bring a no-objection letter from the Eritrean embassy in Khartoum. Prior to issuing the no-objection letter, the Eritrean embassy requires the applicants to fill lengthy forms (their relatives, addresses, etc) and transfers the information to the Eritrea embassies in their destination country. This assures their loyalty once they arrive in the foreign land. They are required to pay a mandatory 2% of their income taxes. If they refuse to co-operate, their relatives risk denial of any service from the government. Meanwhile, Egyptian embassies in the Arab Gulf countries are denying visas to Eritrean passport carriers. This is unusual because any residence permit holder in any of the gulf countries used to get visas without any difficulty. The reason for this policy change is not known but observers suspect it is because the Egyptian government wants to avoid its territories being used as a transit to other countries. Israel and Europe have been flooded with refugees incluing from Eritrea.

Last Updated ( Sep 13, 2008 )

Comments

screen

New Comment

Just to test

[Reply]

Ok it seems the test works fine!!!

[Reply]