Sudanese Commercial Law Office (SCLO) advises international companies on agency and distribution arrangements in Sudan — one of the most legally complex areas of market entry for foreign businesses operating in the Sudanese market.

Under Sudanese law, foreign companies and Sudanese companies with foreign ownership are prohibited from conducting business in export, import, and general trade activities. This means any international company seeking to sell products in Sudan must work through a local agent or distributor. Navigating this requirement correctly — choosing the right structure, drafting enforceable agreements, and managing the commercial risks — is critical to a successful Sudan market entry.

SCLO has advised international clients across multiple sectors on agency and distribution arrangements in Sudan, including pharmaceuticals and healthcare, transport, automotive, cosmetics, and food and agriculture. Our clients include GE Healthcare, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, and a UAE-based company on its Sudan distribution agreement.

Our agency and distribution practice covers the full scope of what international clients need: advising on the legal framework governing agency and distribution in Sudan, drafting and negotiating agency agreements and distribution agreements that are enforceable under Sudanese law, advising on Central Bank foreign exchange regulations applicable to commission and payment arrangements, and managing disputes between principals and agents or distributors where a relationship has broken down.

A poorly drafted agency agreement in Sudan can expose an international principal to significant commercial and legal risk — including claims for compensation on termination that go beyond what the contract provides. SCLO advises on these risks at the outset of every agency and distribution mandate, not after problems arise.

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