PUBLISHED: MARCH 14, 2006

The law regulating the activities of civil society organisations, “The Organisation of Humanitarian and Voluntary Work Bill 2006” was passed in a final reading by the National Assembly on February 20, 2006. The law reportedly imposes restrictions on the work of NGOs operating in Sudan, and grants discretionary regulatory power to the government over the operations of NGOs. Following the enactment of the law, the Humanitarian Aid Commission, the Government agency which oversees all humanitarian organisations in Sudan, reportedly issued a formal notice to the directors of the Sudan Social Development Organisation ordering the suspension of all its activities within west Darfur province.