Trafficking in persons Sudan, in 18 editions.

current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; Sudan may also be a transit and destination country for Ethiopian women trafficked for domestic servitude; boys are trafficked to the Middle East, particularly Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, for use as camel jockeys; small numbers of girls are reportedly trafficked within Sudan for domestic servitude, servitude as well as for commercial sexual exploitation in small brothels in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps; the terrorist rebel organization "Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA) continues to abduct and forcibly conscript small numbers of children in Southern Sudan for use as cooks, porters, and combatants in its ongoing war against Uganda; some of these children are then trafficked across borders into Uganda or possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo; children are utilized by rebel groups and the Sudanese Armed Forces and associated militias in the ongoing conflict in Darfur; during the decades of civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children were enslaved by members of Baggara tribes and subjected to various forms of forced labor without remuneration, remuneration as well as physical and sexual abuse; with the cessation of the North-South conflict and the ongoing peace process, there were no known new abductions of Dinka by Baggara tribes during 2005; however, inter-tribal abductions of a different nature continue in Southern Sudan and warrant further investigation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so

current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked internally for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; Sudan may is also be a transit and destination country for Ethiopian women trafficked abroad for domestic servitude; boys are trafficked to the Middle East, particularly Qatar Sudanese women and the United Arab Emirates, for use as camel jockeys; small numbers of girls are reportedly trafficked within Sudan for domestic servitude the country, as well as possibly to Middle Eastern countries for commercial sexual exploitation in small brothels in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps; domestic servitude; the terrorist rebel organization "Lord's organization, Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA) Army, continues to abduct and forcibly conscript harbor small numbers of Sudanese and Ugandan children in Southern Sudan the southern part of the country for use as cooks, porters, and combatants in its ongoing war against Uganda; combatants; some of these children are then also trafficked across borders into Uganda or possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo; children are utilized by rebel militia groups and the Sudanese Armed Forces and associated militias in Darfur, some of which are linked to the ongoing conflict in Darfur; government, abduct women for short periods of forced labor and to perpetrate sexual violence; during the decades of two decades-long north-south civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children were abducted and subsequently enslaved by members of Baggara tribes and subjected to various forms of forced labor without remuneration as well as physical and sexual abuse; with the cessation of the North-South conflict Missiriya and the ongoing peace process, Rezeigat tribes; while there were have been no known new abductions of Dinka by members of Baggara tribes during 2005; however, in the last few years, inter-tribal abductions of a different nature continue in Southern southern Sudan and warrant further investigation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so so; combating human trafficking through law enforcement or prevention measures was not a priority for the government in 2007 (2008)

current situation:
Sudan is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked internally for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; Sudan is also a transit and destination country for Ethiopian women trafficked abroad for domestic servitude; Sudanese women and girls are trafficked within the country, as well as possibly to Middle Eastern countries for domestic servitude; the terrorist rebel organization, Lord's Resistance Army, continues to harbor small numbers of Sudanese and Ugandan children in the southern part of the country for use as cooks, porters, and combatants; some of these children are also trafficked across borders into Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo; militia groups in Darfur, some of which are linked to the government, abduct women for short periods of forced labor and to perpetrate sexual violence; during the two decades-long north-south civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children were abducted and subsequently enslaved by members of the Missiriya and Rezeigat tribes; while there have been no known new abductions of Dinka by members of Baggara tribes in the last few years, inter-tribal abductions continue in southern Sudan
tier rating:
Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; combating human trafficking through law enforcement or prevention measures was not a priority for the government in 2007 (2008)

current situation:
Sudan is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked internally for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; Sudan is also a transit and destination country for Ethiopian women trafficked abroad for domestic servitude; Sudanese women and girls are trafficked within the country, country as well as possibly to Middle Eastern countries for domestic servitude; the terrorist rebel organization, Lord's Resistance Army, continues to harbor small numbers of Sudanese and Ugandan children in the southern part of the country for use as cooks, porters, and combatants; some of these children are also trafficked across borders into Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo; militia groups in Darfur, some of which are linked to the government, abduct women for short periods of forced labor and to perpetrate sexual violence; during the two decades-long north-south civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children were abducted and subsequently enslaved by members of the Missiriya and Rezeigat tribes; while there have been no known new abductions of Dinka by members of Baggara tribes in the last few years, inter-tribal abductions continue in southern Sudan
tier rating:
Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; combating human trafficking through law enforcement or prevention measures was not a priority for the government in 2007 (2008)

current situation:
Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Sudanese women and girls, particularly those from rural areas or who are internally displaced, are vulnerable to forced labor as domestic workers in homes throughout the country; some of these women and girls are subsequently sexually abused by male occupants of the household or forced to engage in commercial sex acts; Sudanese women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude in Middle Eastern countries, such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and to forced sex trafficking in European countries; some Sudanese men who voluntarily migrate to the Middle East as low-skilled laborers face conditions indicative of forced labor; Sudanese children transit Yemen en route to Saudi Arabia, where they are used in forced begging and street vending, and reportedly work in exploitative labor situations for Sudanese traders in the Central African Republic; Sudan is a transit and destination country for Ethiopian and Eritrean women subjected to domestic servitude in Sudan and Middle Eastern countries; Sudan is a destination for Ethiopian, Somali, and possibly Thai women subjected to forced prostitution prostitution; Sudanese children in Darfur were forcibly conscripted, at times through abduction, and used by armed groups
tier rating:
Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; while the government took some initial steps to identify, demobilize, acknowledge the existence of trafficking, draft anti-trafficking legislation, prosecute suspected traffickers, demobilize and reintegrate child soldiers during the reporting period, combating soldiers, and waive overstay fines for foreign domestic workers, its efforts to combat human trafficking through law enforcement, protection, or prevention measures was were undertaken in an ad hoc fashion, rather than as the result of strategic planning; the government convicted three traffickers, but did not officially identify trafficking victims or make public data regarding its efforts to combat human trafficking; its proxy militias reportedly unlawfully recruited and used child soldiers during the reporting period, and it did not take action to conclude a priority (2011) propsed action plan with the UN to address the problem (2012)

current situation:
Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Sudanese women and girls, particularly those from rural areas or who are internally displaced, are vulnerable to forced labor as domestic workers in homes throughout the country; some of these women and girls are subsequently sexually abused by male occupants of the household or forced to engage in commercial sex acts; Sudanese women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude in Middle Eastern countries, such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, countries and to forced sex trafficking in European countries; some Sudanese men who voluntarily migrate to the Middle East as low-skilled laborers face conditions indicative of forced labor; Sudanese children transit Yemen en route to in Saudi Arabia, where they Arabia are used in forced begging and street vending, and reportedly work in exploitative labor situations for Sudanese traders in the Central African Republic; vending; Sudan is a transit and destination country for Ethiopian and Eritrean women subjected to domestic servitude in Sudan and Middle Eastern countries; Sudan is a destination for Ethiopian, Somali, and possibly Thai women subjected to forced prostitution; Sudanese children in Darfur were are forcibly conscripted, at times through abduction, and used by armed groups and government security forces
tier rating:
Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; while the government took has taken some initial steps to acknowledge the existence of trafficking, draft anti-trafficking legislation, prosecute suspected traffickers, demobilize and reintegrate child soldiers, and waive overstay fines for foreign domestic workers, has convened its first workshop to discuss human trafficking, its efforts to combat human trafficking through law enforcement, protection, or prevention measures were are undertaken in an ad hoc fashion, rather than as the result of strategic planning; the government convicted three traffickers, but did has not officially identify employed a system for proactively identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations or make public data regarding its efforts a referral process for transferring victims to combat human trafficking; organizations providing care; its proxy militias reportedly unlawfully recruited and used child soldiers during the reporting period, and it did period; the government has not take taken action to conclude a propsed proposed action plan with the UN to address the problem (2012) (2013)

current situation:
Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Sudanese women and girls, particularly those from rural areas or who are internally displaced, are vulnerable to forced labor as domestic workers in homes throughout the country; some of these women and girls are subsequently sexually abused by male occupants of the household or forced to engage in commercial sex acts; Sudanese women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude in Middle Eastern countries and to forced sex trafficking in European countries; Europe; some Sudanese men who voluntarily migrate to the Middle East as low-skilled laborers face conditions indicative of forced labor; Sudanese children in Darfur are forcibly conscripted, at times through abduction, and used by armed groups and government security forces, while Sudanese children in Saudi Arabia are used in forced begging and street vending; Sudan is a transit and destination country for Ethiopian Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Eritrean Filipina women subjected to domestic servitude in Sudan and Middle Eastern countries; Sudan is countries, as well as a destination country for Ethiopian, Somali, and possibly Thai women subjected to forced prostitution; Sudanese children in Darfur are forcibly conscripted, at times through abduction, and used by armed groups sex trafficked from East African countries and government security forces possibly Thailand
tier rating:
Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; while in 2013, the government has taken some initial steps to draft enacted an anti-trafficking legislation, prosecute suspected traffickers, demobilize law, raised the age of military recruitment to 18, rescued and reintegrate child soldiers, assisted an increased number of trafficking victims, and has convened its first workshop to discuss human trafficking, its made efforts to combat human trafficking through bring traffickers to justice; however, its law enforcement, protection, or prevention measures are undertaken in an to address human trafficking remained ad hoc fashion, rather than as the result of strategic planning; hoc; the government has did not employed employ a system for proactively identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations population or a referral process for transferring victims to organizations providing care; its proxy militias reportedly unlawfully recruited in 2013, Sudan’s armed forces and used proxy militia continued to recruit child soldiers during the reporting period; the government has and did not taken action to conclude a proposed joint action plan with the UN to address the problem (2013) issue (2014)

current situation: Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Sudanese women and girls, particularly those from rural areas or who are internally displaced, or refugees are vulnerable to forced labor as domestic workers servitude in homes throughout the country; Sudanese women and girls are subjected to country, as well as domestic servitude in Middle Eastern countries and to forced sex trafficking in Europe; some Sudanese men who voluntarily migrate to the Middle abroad; migrants from East as low-skilled laborers face conditions indicative of forced labor; Sudanese children in Darfur are forcibly conscripted, at times through abduction, and used by armed groups and government security forces, while Sudanese children in Saudi Arabia are used in forced begging West Africa, South Sudan, Syria, and street vending; Nigeria smuggled into or through Sudan is a transit and destination country for are vulnerable to exploitation; Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Filipina women are subjected to domestic servitude in Sudan Sudanese homes, and Middle Eastern countries, as well as a destination country for women sex trafficked from East African countries and possibly Thailand Thai women are forced into prostitution in Sudan; Sudanese children continue to be recruited and used as combatants by government forces and armed groups
tier rating: Tier 3 2 Watch List - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and trafficking; however, it is not making significant efforts to do so; in 2013, the government enacted an increased its efforts to publically address and prevent trafficking, established a national anti-trafficking law, raised council, and began drafting a national action plan against trafficking; the age government acknowledges cross-border trafficking but still denies the existence of military recruitment to 18, rescued forced labor, sex trafficking, and assisted an increased number the recruitment of trafficking victims, and made efforts to bring traffickers to justice; however, its child soldiers domestically; law enforcement, protection, or prevention measures enforcement and judicial officials struggled to address human trafficking remained ad hoc; apply the government national anti-trafficking law, often relying on other statutes with lesser penalties; authorities did not employ a system for proactively identifying trafficking use systematic procedure to identify victims among vulnerable population or a referral process for transferring victims refer them to care and relied on international organizations providing care; in 2013, Sudan’s armed forces and proxy militia continued domestic groups to recruit child soldiers and did not conclude provide protective services; some foreign victims were penalized for unlawful acts committed as a proposed joint action plan with the UN to address the issue (2014) direct result of being trafficked, such as immigration or prostitution violations (2015)

current situation: Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Sudanese women and girls, particularly those from rural areas or who are internally displaced, or refugees are vulnerable to domestic servitude in country, as well as domestic servitude and sex trafficking abroad; migrants from East and West Africa, South Sudan, Syria, and Nigeria smuggled into or through Sudan are vulnerable to exploitation; Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Filipina Filipino women are subjected to domestic servitude in Sudanese homes, and East African and possibly Thai women are forced into prostitution in Sudan; Sudanese children continue to be recruited and used as combatants by government forces and armed groups
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government increased its efforts to publically address and prevent trafficking, established a national anti-trafficking council, and began drafting a national action plan against trafficking; the government acknowledges cross-border trafficking but still denies the existence of forced labor, sex trafficking, and the recruitment of child soldiers domestically; law enforcement and judicial officials struggled to apply the national anti-trafficking law, often relying on other statutes with lesser penalties; authorities did not use systematic procedure to identify victims or refer them to care and relied on international organizations and domestic groups to provide protective services; some foreign victims were penalized for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked, such as immigration or prostitution violations (2015)

tier rating: Tier 3 — Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Sudan was downgraded to remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/sudan/ https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/sudan