Non-Active Bank Employees Appeal via “Sudanhorizon” for Reinstatement

Sudanhorizon – Hala Hamza

A large number of non-active bank employees are enduring harsh humanitarian conditions after being forced by the war to flee their homes, properties, and jobs in search of safer areas.

Several employees told Sudanhorizon that their banks had effectively abandoned them due to their prolonged forced absence—now extending to three years—without even providing salaries to help them cope with the hardships of displacement.

“Working but Looking for Work”

One employee at a major bank in Khartoum, who requested anonymity, said he fled southern Khartoum to another state and immediately approached the bank’s branches there, explaining that he was displaced and wished to resume work. However, he was told there were no vacancies and was asked to leave his contact details in case an opportunity arose—something that never happened.

He added that later, a circular required all displaced staff to report to the nearest branch in their area of displacement. Despite complying, he and others in similar situations were again told there were no available positions, and their names were merely recorded to be forwarded to headquarters.

Speaking with deep frustration, he said he urgently needed work due to chronic illnesses requiring ongoing treatment. He also revealed that his mother, who suffered from kidney failure and was under his care, passed away in a shelter after he became unemployed and could no longer afford her treatment following the suspension of parental medical allowances.

He called for justice for non-active employees and their reinstatement so they can support their families, urging banks to reverse the suspension of medical benefits for parents and children, noting that the basic salary alone is insufficient—even for a couple of days—after deductions such as loans and installment payments.

Appeal to the Trade Union

Another case is that of “Ikhlas,” a resident auditor at a bank branch in Khartoum and the wife of a retired banker. According to the report, she suffers from kidney pain that has developed into renal failure, leaving her bedridden at Ahmed Gasim Hospital due to the suspension of her salary, lack of reinstatement, and halted medical support.

Ikhlas appealed to the bank’s trade union to support her and spare her the humiliation of having to seek help.

Absence of Job Justice

Former banker Nu’man Mohammed described the situation as more than mere “administrative confusion,” calling it a real test of justice—whether it is a true principle or just a slogan used in times of stability and abandoned during crises.

He said thousands of employees are facing an abnormal legal and humanitarian situation: no salaries, no benefits, no clear decisions, and no explicit legal classification. He described it as a “suspension of rights” or an undeclared dismissal over the past three years.

Nu’man questioned the legal basis for withholding rights without fair decisions, stressing that these employees did not leave their jobs voluntarily but were forced out by war, displacement, and the collapse of the work environment. Yet, they are often treated as if they were absent by choice, ignoring the concept of “force majeure.”

Selective Reinstatement Concerns

He also pointed to what many affected workers describe as selective reinstatement, where some employees are called back while others are not—without clear or transparent criteria. This, he said, fuels suspicion and erodes trust, opening the door to favoritism and arbitrary decisions.

A Silent Drain of Human Capital

Nu’man warned that the issue goes beyond crisis management, describing it as a silent drain of human capital. Skilled banking professionals, in whom institutions have invested for years, are now being pushed toward migration, withdrawal, or disengagement.

He argued that the problem is not the war itself—which is a force majeure—but the administrative choices being made afterward. He called for clear decisions recognizing that the absence was forced, not negligent, ending indefinite suspension, and establishing transparent criteria for reinstatement.

He also emphasized the need for fair financial solutions—even temporary ones—to preserve basic human dignity.

Conflicting Realities on the Ground

Sources told Sudanhorizon that one major bank in Khartoum has around 750 non-active employees, including 600 who left the capital after the entry of the Rapid Support Forces. The number later increased following events in Wad Madani. Currently, only 373 employees remain active, covering headquarters, some Kordofan branches, and all Darfur branches.

The sources added that a number of employees in Darfur have joined the Rapid Support Forces, with some even taking leadership roles in a bank established by the group in the region.

A “Vague” Decision

Bank employee Baha El-Din Abdeen criticized Decision No. 34/2024 issued by one bank regarding non-active employees as vague, saying it left too much discretion to executive management in determining who qualifies.

He pointed to possible favoritism influenced by personal relationships among branch and department managers. He also noted that the board of directors had not formally convened to suspend provisions of the employee service regulations, arguing that withholding benefits—such as marriage, child, and responsibility allowances—is therefore legally invalid.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=13178