Sudan: Expert Warns 60% Of Forests Lost Since 1990 Due To Weak Oversight

Abdelmoneim El Huweiriss, a former adviser at Sudan's agriculture ministry, has warned that Sudan has lost approximately 60% of its forests since 1990, with destruction accelerating due to conflict, mechanised farming, and weak state oversight. This expert assessment, reported by AllAfrica Sudan, details a severe deterioration of forest cover across significant regions of the country, including Kordofan, Darfur, Blue Nile, White Nile, Butana, and El Gedaref. El Huweiriss attributes this substantial environmental degradation to the rapid expansion of mechanised farming, a pronounced lack of governmental oversight, and limited public awareness regarding the critical role of forests. The ongoing war has intensified pressure, as communities resort to firewood for fuel following the collapse of electricity and cooking gas supplies.

The legal significance of this expert's findings for practitioners is substantial, highlighting a critical erosion of environmental protection mechanisms and the rule of law in Sudan. The reported disappearance of government agencies tasked with safeguarding and monitoring forests creates a significant regulatory void, exposing natural resources to unchecked exploitation. Moreover, the claim that state authorities have granted foreign interests, such as Egyptian entities in Blue Nile state, rights to invest in forests during this period of instability raises serious legal and ethical questions regarding land tenure, environmental impact assessments, and compliance with national and international standards. This situation presents considerable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks for any entity operating within or considering investment in Sudan.

Within the Sudanese legal framework, environmental protection is typically enshrined in specific forestry acts, land use planning regulations, and broader environmental protection laws. These statutes are designed to prevent deforestation, promote sustainable resource management, and regulate foreign investment in natural resources. The alleged actions of state authorities in granting investment rights, particularly without robust oversight or in a context where monitoring agencies have "disappeared," could be subject to legal challenge under these existing frameworks, or under future post-conflict accountability mechanisms. The expert's statement does not detail any specific legal rulings or ongoing cases, but rather serves as a critical warning about the state of environmental governance.

For legal professionals advising businesses or engaging in advocacy, the practitioner takeaway from this report is the imperative for heightened vigilance and comprehensive due diligence. Attorneys must counsel clients on the significant legal and reputational risks associated with land-intensive operations or investments in Sudan, particularly those involving natural resources. This includes meticulously scrutinizing the provenance and legality of any land grants, assessing the environmental and social impacts, and ensuring compliance with all applicable national and international environmental standards, even in a challenging operational environment. Furthermore, practitioners should monitor developments in environmental policy and potential post-conflict legal reforms, as these may introduce new liabilities or opportunities for environmental remediation and sustainable development.