According to the Bank of Khartoum (BOK) Website and the Europa World Yearbook 2002, the BOK headquarters is located at 8 Al Gamhouria Street, in Khartoum, at the intersection of Al Gamhouria and Al Qasr Streets (n.d.a; Europa 2002 2002, 3741). BOK's mailing address is Post Office Box 1008, Khartoum, Sudan (Europa 2002 2002, 3741). Although street addresses could not be found for the Khartoum branches of BOK among the sources consulted, their names are listed in the attached document along with the other branches in Sudan.

Europa World Yearbook 2002 stated that the Bank of Sudan, which controls all domestic banks, issued new policies in May 2000 calling for domestic banks to merge into six groups by 2002 (2002, 3741). The policies were reportedly part of financial reforms meant to improve the financial strength of domestic banks and their international competitiveness (Europa 2002 2002, 3741). As part of this effort, the government is privatizing state-owned banks in the commercial section by opening up to private investors (Vigilance Soudan Sept. - Oct. 2002; World Report 6 Jan. 2001). One source also reported that the government was planning to sell 74 per cent of its share in the BOK and was seeking buyers from among the Sudanese expatriate community (Vigilance Soudan Sept. - Oct. 2002). The BOK offered its first public shares in 2002 (BOK n.d.b).

Regarding reports of organizational changes since 2000, the BOK Website notes that it has undergone "numerous name and administrative changes" since its inception in 1913 as the Anglo Egyptian Bank (n.d.). An earlier article by Arabic News.com reported that the BOK was beginning a process to close 17 of its branches and merge 8 branches that would start in December 2000 (18 Nov. 2000). As a result of the planned closures, BOK offered their 370 employees an extension for submitting early voluntary retirement applications (Arabic News.com 18 Nov. 2000). The Sudanese minister of finance, Muhammad Kheir al-Zubier, announced an initial grant of two billion Sudanese dinars to assist workers affected by the privatisation reforms in finding alternative employment (ibid.).

Reports of employees being dismissed due to political activities and a sample of an employment record and bank letterhead could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Arabic News.com. 18 November 2000. "Sudanese Bank Merges Branches." http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/001118/2000111808.html [Accessed 24 Apr. 2003]

Bank of Khartoum (BOK). n.d.a. "Contact." http://www.bankofkhartoum.net/contact.htm [Accessed 24 Apr. 2003]

_____. n.d.b. "Timeline." http://bankofkhartoum.net/timeline.htm [Accessed 24 Apr. 2003]

Europa World Yearbook 2002. 2002. 43rd ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Limited.

Vigilance Soudan. September - October 2002. Vigilance Soudan. "Oil and the Economy." http://www.vigilsd.org/articles/ba16/ab-16-5.htm [Accessed 24 Apr. 2003]

World Report. 6 January 2001. "Reforms Are a Capital Idea." http://www.worldreport-ind.com/sudan/finance.htm [Accessed 24 Apr. 2003]

Attachment

Bank of Khartoum (BOK). n.d. "Branches." http://bankofkhartoum.net/branches.htm [Accessed 24 Apr. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Research Bulletin

IRB Databases

The Bank of Khartoum did not provide information on the above-mentioned topic within the time constraints of this Response.

Internet sites, including:

Africa Confidential

Africa Online

AllAfrica.com

Amnesty International (AI)

BBC News Africa

Daily Arabic News

East African Standard

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Integrated Regional International Networks (IRIN)

Labour Start

Sudan Update

Sudanese Human Rights Quarterly

Sudan.net

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

US Department of State

World News Connection (WNC)

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