Sudan: Khartoum State Links Licensing of Service and Industrial Activities to Environmental Approvals

What the report says

Khartoum State authorities have introduced a new شرط tying business licensing to environmental clearance for industrial and service activities, according to Sudan News Agency reporting distributed by AllAfrica. The Supreme Council for Environment and Urban and Rural Development in Khartoum State said establishments must first secure environmental approval before a license can be issued.

The measure follows a decision from the Secretary-General of the Khartoum State Government, Ahmed Al-Mustafa. In the report, the council said the rule applies to industrial and service facilities and is intended to ensure environmental requirements are met before operations begin. The announcement was made in Khartoum on Aug. 10, 2026.

Ghada Hussein Al-Awad, secretary-general of the state environmental council, said the procedures for obtaining approvals have already been completed through the General Administration for Environmental Impact Assessment and Licensing. She pointed to the Khartoum State Environmental Protection and Development Act of 2008, as amended in 2020, as the legal basis for the process.

The decision is significant because it gives environmental regulators a formal role in business licensing, which could affect how quickly new establishments open in the state. More broadly, environmental permitting is a common tool used by governments to manage pollution, land use and public health risks, although the article did not detail specific sectors or enforcement steps.