Sudan Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Sudan Business

TL;DR. Sudan’s company registry is administered by the Registrar of Companies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. No online registry access is available to foreign users. Sudan’s OFAC sanctions were partially lifted in 2017 after decades of complete sanctions; residual designations remain. A military coup in October 2021 and a devastating civil war beginning April 2023 (SAF vs RSF) have caused severe institutional disruption including in Khartoum, where the registrar is based. Enhanced due diligence (EDD) is strongly recommended for all Sudan-linked transactions; consult legal counsel for any USD or US-nexus transaction.

What is the official Sudan business registry?

Sudan’s company registry is the Registrar of Companies, operating under the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Khartoum. Companies register under the Companies Act 2015 (which replaced the earlier 1925 Act and subsequent legislation). The Ministry’s portal is nominally at mit.gov.sd, though operational status of online services should be verified given the ongoing conflict. [VERIFY: current operational status of the Registrar of Companies and any available online registry access.]

Sudan’s commercial law tradition draws on both British colonial-era law (Sudan was an Anglo-Egyptian Condominium until 1956) and subsequent Islamic-influenced legal reforms under various governments. The Companies Act 2015 introduced modernized provisions for company governance, including initial improvements to transparency requirements.

Critical political context. Sudan has experienced cascading governance crises:

• October 2021 military coup: The Sovereignty Council chaired by General al-Burhan dissolved the civilian government, leading to international sanctions and program suspensions.
• April 2023 civil war: Fighting broke out in Khartoum between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group. The conflict has spread to Darfur, North Kordofan, and other states. As of May 2026, the civil war continues, with Khartoum itself having experienced severe destruction and displacement. [VERIFY: current conflict situation at time of inquiry.]

This means that the Registrar of Companies office in Khartoum may be non-operational, displaced, or functioning at minimal capacity. Registry access under these conditions is highly uncertain.

Sudan uses the Sudanese Pound (SDG) as its official currency; USD is used in international commercial transactions. The SDG has experienced severe depreciation and a large parallel market.

What can you search?

No online public registry search is available. Under pre-conflict conditions, searches at the Registrar of Companies in Khartoum via a local legal representative could yield:

• Company name
• Registration number
• Legal form (limited liability company, partnership, branch)
• Directors and authorized signatories
• Registered office address
• Share capital

Given the conflict, the practical ability to conduct registry searches in Khartoum is severely impaired as of May 2026. [VERIFY: current operational status of the Registrar and any alternative access points (e.g., Port Sudan, if government functions have relocated).]

How much does it cost?

Sudan transacts commercially in USD for material business; SDG-denominated fees are secondary for international planning purposes given monetary volatility.

Do you need a local account or ID?

Yes. A local Sudanese legal representative in Khartoum (or wherever government functions have relocated) is required. There is no remote access pathway.

Is the website in English?

No. Arabic is Sudan’s official language and all registry documents, government communications, and official proceedings are in Arabic. English translation is required for international compliance use. [VERIFY: current availability of any English-language services through the Ministry of Industry and Trade.]

What’s the turnaround time?

Highly uncertain. Under pre-conflict conditions, 2-4 weeks was typical for registry searches via a local representative. Given the active civil war, any timeline commitment is unreliable. Registry workflows may have entirely stopped in Khartoum; government functions may have partially relocated to Port Sudan. [VERIFY: current operational status before any commitment.]

Is there an API?

No. No digital registry infrastructure for programmatic access to Sudan company data exists.

What you legally cannot do

OFAC Sudan sanctions history. Sudan was subject to complete OFAC sanctions from 1997 until October 2017, when OFAC revoked the Sudan Sanctions Program following Sudan’s cooperation on counter-terrorism and humanitarian access. However:

• Residual designations remain: specific Sudanese individuals (including military leaders and Darfur-related actors) and entities remain designated on the OFAC SDN list.
• October 2021 coup: Following the military coup, the US and other governments imposed additional targeted sanctions on specific individuals including members of the Sovereignty Council and RSF-linked figures.
• April 2023 civil war: Additional designations were issued against SAF and RSF-affiliated individuals and entities involved in the conflict and associated human rights violations.

Always screen Sudan-linked counterparties, including UBOs and related parties, against the current OFAC SDN list and the EU Consolidated Sanctions List. Engage legal counsel for any USD or US-nexus transaction involving Sudanese parties.

UN Security Council arms embargo and targeted sanctions related to Darfur also remain in effect for designated parties.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• EDD is non-negotiable. The combination of residual OFAC exposure, ongoing civil war, collapsed institutional infrastructure, and severe economic disruption means that standard CDD is insufficient for Sudan. Enhanced due diligence with legal sign-off is the baseline for any material Sudan-linked transaction.
• Identify which forces control your counterparty’s location. The SAF-RSF conflict has divided Sudan geographically. Companies in RSF-controlled areas (much of Khartoum, Darfur, parts of Kordofan) operate under different de facto authority than SAF-controlled areas (northern Sudan, Port Sudan, parts of the east). This affects the counterparty’s operational context and risk exposure.
• Gold sector. Sudan is a material artisanal and small-scale gold producer. The RSF’s commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), controls extensive gold mining operations through RSF-linked companies. Any transaction involving Sudanese gold requires rigorous beneficial ownership verification and sanctions screening given this nexus. [VERIFY: current OFAC designation status of specific individuals and entities.]
• Gum arabic sector. Sudan is the world’s largest producer of gum arabic (used in food, beverages, and cosmetics). The gum arabic trade was exempted from OFAC sanctions even during the complete sanctions period. However, UBO verification for gum arabic trading companies should address any RSF or military-linked beneficial ownership.
• Banking correspondent access. Many international banks have severely restricted or eliminated correspondent banking relationships with Sudanese financial institutions. Wire transfers to Sudanese banks may be refused even for non-sanctioned transactions due to reputational and compliance risk. Verify correspondent bank availability before committing to any Sudan-linked commercial structure.
• Pre-2017 sanctions legacy. Even though complete OFAC sanctions were revoked in 2017, some international compliance programs retained heightened procedures for Sudan. Check your firm’s internal Sudan policy, which may impose obligations beyond OFAC current requirements.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly

• Specialist due-diligence providers: Control Risks, Kroll, and firms with Sudan/Northeast Africa practice maintain networks for entity verification despite the conflict. This is the primary route.
• OFAC SDN search (sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov): mandatory first screen for all Sudan-linked counterparties.
• UN Expert Panel on Sudan: the UN Sanctions Panel for Sudan (Darfur) publishes detailed reports on designated individuals and entities, including company affiliations.
• Local law firms: Sudanese law firms in Khartoum or Port Sudan may be accessible for legal representation; verify operating status.

Local data suppliers

No major international credit bureau operates a Sudan commercial credit reporting service as of May 2026 given the sanctions history and current conflict. Specialist advisory engagement is the only viable route.

FAQ

Are OFAC sanctions still active on Sudan?

Complete OFAC Sudan sanctions were revoked in October 2017. However, specific individuals and entities remain designated on the OFAC SDN list, including actors connected to Darfur violence, the 2021 coup, and the 2023 civil war. OFAC continues to add Sudan-linked designations. Screen all counterparties against the current SDN list before any transaction.

Can a foreign company access the Sudan registry directly?

No online public access exists. Physical registry searches require a Khartoum-based or accessible local legal representative. Given the active civil war in Khartoum, assess operational feasibility carefully.

What entity types are registered in Sudan?

Sudan’s Companies Act 2015 covers limited liability companies (LLC), joint-stock companies (PJSC/OJSC), partnerships, and branches of foreign companies. Many commercial entities in Sudan are structured as LLCs.

Does Sudan have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Sudan does not operate a publicly accessible UBO registry. Beneficial ownership verification requires direct counterparty disclosure, supported by specialist verification. Given the civil war context and RSF/SAF commercial interests, UBO verification for Sudanese entities requires particular rigor.

Is Sudan on the FATF grey list?

Sudan is not formally on the FATF increased monitoring list as of May 2026. [VERIFY: current FATF status at fatf-gafi.org.] However, the operational risk profile from the civil war, residual sanctions exposure, and governance collapse is substantially higher than the FATF listing status alone would indicate. Apply EDD as a baseline.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: OFAC Sudan sanctions history (ofac.treas.gov), EU Consolidated Sanctions List (sanctionsmap.eu), UN Expert Panel on Sudan, FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.