By Alsir Sidahmed

 

These are alarming figures. In just six months 66, 000 professionals, skilled and unskilled labor left the country, said Dr Karar El-Tuhami head of the Sudanese Workers Abroad. Last year alone 94, 230 were registered in the government books to have left the country against 10, 032 who migrated four years earlier. Of those who left more than 5, 000 came from the medical field, mainly physicians, while more than 1, 000 belong to the educational field. Actual figures could be more than those listed officially.

 

Those migrating are those who are giving up their jobs, and not unemployed ones looking for work opportunities, though unemployment is being put officially at 26 percent. With high inflation and deteriorating value of the national currency, migration provides an opportunity for better pay and better work environment especially for professionals like physicians and engineers.

The fact that the trend to go abroad looking for jobs is on the rise is coupled with the growing demand in the recipient countries themselves led by Gulf region in particular, who are expanding their social programs especially in the medical and educational fields thanks to the unprecedented oil income and growing population. That is why even fresh housemen physicians are in demand in these states. 

In a way there is something positive about this migration as it shows that Sudanese professionals are still in demand in countries that continue to need foreign labor force. They are helped by the good reputation Sudanese working abroad still enjoy.

Also they will continue to help the Sudanese economy through their remittances and more important for the support they give to their families, friends and relatives in meeting every day demands, thus help soften the hardship of the tough economic situation on the people.

Yet on the other hand, the surge of migration should be alarming as it reflects instability in the labor market on one hand and more important influx by such high rate will eventually have its impact on the domestic front.

After losing the oil revenues that used to constitute more than 90 percent of the hard currency income, Sudan found itself unintentionally ditching the Dutch Disease and was forced to deal with what is left out of the oil curse.

Utilizing the country’s natural resources in various areas and replacing oil revenue needs expertise, which seem to be in short given the high rate of migration by qualified professionals. More important, Sudan is pushing to attract additional foreign investments mainly in agriculture, animal husbandry, mining and other areas; all require designs of projects and ability to implement them, which puts an added challenge.

After all this kind of brain drain could be attributed to growing globalization and the difficult economic conditions all over, but in the end it is the domestic politics that dictate the game. The growing security and political tension is a big factor that pushes for migration. This new development reversed the trend since the CPA in 2005, where the peace deal improved the country’s political and economic climate. The economic shock that ensued following the separation of South Sudan helped in fueling the migration trend can best be tackled from the political angle, ensure peace that can attract investments, utilize the country’s resources and provide job opportunities that arrest migration.