Republic of The Sudan

 General Administration of Customs

Historical Background of Sudan Customs

 

A-   The Administrative Development:   

     Before the establishment of Customs Department, collection of customs duties was done by directors of provinces on behalf of the governor general and transmitted to the  Financial Secretary. Department of Customs was established in 1905 as an independent government organization to collect indirect taxes from imports, exports and excise. The first director to be appointed was Mr. His Sadler who was holding the rank of Brigidair (English Nationality). He commended his responsibilities as from first january 1906. One of his most important achievements is the establishment of new 17 customs stations through out Sudan borders.

The customs department has been administerd by ( 8) English directors until the independence in 1956.

The first Sudanese director was Mr. Mohamed Kamal Fareed. then the list continues to include nine directors up to date. 

B.    The customs Headquarters: 

I-                  Suakin was the first customs headquarters from 1906  - 1909.

II-               From the period 1909 - 1914 it was transfered to Portsudan but in summer Sinkat was used as a temporary headquarters.

III-            In 1914 the headquarters was  transfered to Khartoum and was hosted in apart of the Ministry of Finance building. then it was moved to Al Qasr streed and now it lies north east of El huria bridge since 1984.  

c - The Legal Development : 

            The customs department implemented a number of customs laws since 1905. The later laws were amended laws to the previous ones to cope With trade and security developments, the list of laws used by customs department up to date          include  the following: 

1-     Customs act of 1905.

2-     Customs act of 1906.

3-     Customs act of  1913.

4-     Customs act of  1926.

5-     Customs act of 1939.

6-     Customs act of 1984.

7-     Customs act of 1986. 

d - Latest Administrative Developments :  

I -    The Customs Department continued as one department until 1972.

II-         In 1972 it was divided  to two departments: Customs Department and Excise   Department both chaired by the Director General.

III-     In 1974 the two departments were merged into one under the title, department of customs and excise.

IV-    In 1991 a presidential decree was issued whereby the Customs & Excise Department was converted into a regular force to combat smuggling under the supervision of Ministry of Interior.