Sudanese port tender bids: Union leader fined

Protests by port workers in Port Sudan coincided with a bidding event for foreign investors. The head of the workers’ union has been fined for disturbing the authorities.

On Monday, a court in Port Sudan issued a fine of SDG 52,000 ($7,380) against Osman Tahir, the head of the Alternative Workers' Union of the Sea Ports Corporation, for causing nuisance and disturbing public safety.

Tahir was held accountable for disturbing the authorities during a protest by port on Sunday, when bids on the tender for the rent of the port were opened to six foreign companies. These include companies from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Malaysia and the Philippines.

A number of workers objected to the involvement of foreign companies. Yesterday, the government decided to transfer the screening procedures for the tender for the Port Sudan container terminal to Khartoum, following the port workers’ protests.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga later on Monday, Osman Tahir said that the legal adviser of the Sea Ports Corporation, Mutasim El Sanousi, has submitted his resignation. “He protested against the unfair conditions for the tender, and lack of transparency.”

Tahir said that the conditions in the contract of the tender for the rent of the port stipulate that rent can be increased for a period of 20 years. The head of the workers’ union said that these conditions “are unfair. The port is being privatised and workers displaced.”

Within three months, the full management of the port has to be operative and the port will be delivered to the company that will be awarded the tender, according to Tahir.

Privatisation

Last September Tahir was held after staging a similar protest against the visit of representatives of the Dubai Ports Company to the Southern Container Port in the port city.

Port workers have called upon the authorities not to separate the southern port from the administration of the corporation, explaining that the Philippine company that has received the administration of the southern port during the last period has not achieved much success.

Thousands of people work in the Sudanese ports and are at risk of losing their income in case of a take-over by foreign parties, leading union members stressed. One year ago the privatisation had already started by dismissing 400 temporary workers.