Importers Chamber: We Will Challenge the Advance Declaration System

Sudanhorizon- Nazik Shamam

The National Chamber of Importers intends to submit a memo to the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, explaining the serious repercussions that will hit the Sudanese economy as a result of implementing the Advance Declaration (ACD) system for shipments starting next month.

The Chamber’s head, Al-Sadiq Jalal al-Din Saleh, rejected the media campaign targeting Chamber members and accusing them of smuggling and money laundering after they objected to the implementation of the ACD system.

In exclusive statements to Sudanhorizon on Thursday, he affirmed that their objection stems from purely patriotic motives.

He explained that the import sector is a national sector operating under dire circumstances, amidst a suffocating economic blockade, in addition to the conditions of the “war of dignity.” The sector works to secure strategic, basic, and essential goods despite the difficulties, procedural complexities, and the “sterile tax mentality” that hinders the import process. Jalal described the decision to mandate the Pre-Charge Declaration (ACD) system as a flawed one that disregarded the public interest, was made irresponsibly, and fails to achieve any objectives beneficial to the Sudanese economy.

He argued that the speed with which the decision was made was “suspicious,” especially given that its implementation was entrusted to a British company lacking experience and expertise. He added, “We do not trust those behind this decision or their intentions, which jeopardizes the security of information and data related to the import process and poses a clear threat to national security.”

Jalal revealed that the Chamber submitted a memorandum of objection to the Prime Minister on December 4th , who forwarded it to the Minister of Trade and Industry. No response has been received to date. Missives were also sent to the Minister of Communications on December 17th and to the Minister of Finance on December 21st, again without any reply.

Jalal criticized the lack of consultation with the Chamber and its members, the failure to seek their input, or even to inform them about the new system. Forcing employees to submit import data to a foreign company via a global platform (with a .com domain, accessible at www. acdsudan. com), in addition to imposing exorbitant fees arbitrarily and without any justification, was deemed illegal.

The statement emphasized working to oppose the decision vigorously, addressing public opinion to inform them of the facts, and appealing to the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, while pursuing all available legal avenues.

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