Sudanhorizon Reveals New Details on the Deportation of Hundreds of Sudanese from Kuwait

Sudanhorizon – Mariam Abshir

Sudanhorizon news website has obtained documented information and new details regarding a Kuwait Airways flight that landed at Khartoum Airport two weeks ago, which sparked widespread debate in media circles.

Reliable sources told Sudanhorizon that the Sudanese embassy initiated the organization of the flight after Sudanese nationals stranded in Kuwait were unable to secure transit visas through Saudi Arabia. This followed a surge in the number of people registering for return through channels designated by the embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah, prompting the search for a direct air option to end the suffering of those stranded.

The information indicates that arrangements for the flight coincided with the presence of a number of Sudanese nationals in deportation detention in Kuwait due to residency law violations. Coordination took place between relevant authorities to operate a large Kuwait Airways aircraft capable of accommodating both groups.

The flight carried 142 stranded passengers in addition to four infants, while the number of deportees reached approximately 150 individuals.

Sources explained that the Kuwaiti national carrier initially set the ticket price at 300 Kuwaiti dinars, citing increased insurance and fuel costs, as well as the fact that the aircraft would return from Khartoum without passengers.

As part of negotiations to ease the financial burden, the Sudanese embassy led intensive discussions with Kuwait Airways, resulting in a reduced fare of 270 dinars per passenger and 27 dinars per infant. The stranded passengers were to pay the embassy directly, which in turn committed to transferring the funds to the airline’s account. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior covered the costs of deportees, to be later deducted from their sponsors’ accounts in accordance with legal procedures governing deportation cases.

Some media outlets had claimed that the flight was a fully “free humanitarian evacuation” and alleged that the embassy exploited citizens’ needs by collecting large sums without issuing official tickets or booking confirmations.

However, according to the sources, these claims are contradicted by the available facts, which confirm that the flight was not a regular commercial operation but rather a special flight subject to exceptional operating costs.

The Sudanese embassy in Kuwait denied these accusations entirely, supporting its position with documentation detailing expenditures and the official coordination carried out with Kuwaiti authorities and the national carrier.

Final trip on Saturday, April 25th: Kuwait to Khartoum

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=13544