Sudanese refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in their homeland are arriving in Morocco in increasing numbers, only to find themselves trapped in a bureaucratic maze with limited legal status and minimal access to humanitarian assistance. The arrivals underscore the expanding geographic reach of Sudan’s civil war, which has already displaced millions internally and pushed thousands across borders into neighboring countries and further afield across North Africa and the Middle East.
Sudan’s conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The United Nations estimates that over 10 million people have been displaced, with roughly half fleeing the country entirely. While neighbouring Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan have absorbed the largest refugee populations, West African nations including Morocco have increasingly become destinations for those seeking safety, often after arduous journeys across the Sahara and through multiple countries.
Morocco, however, is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, which means the country has no formal legal framework for processing asylum claims or providing refugees with internationally recognized protections. Instead, Sudanese arrivals navigate a fragmented system where they exist in legal grey zones, unable to access formal employment, education, or healthcare services. Non-governmental organizations operating in Morocco report that many Sudanese refugees lack documentation, subsist on day labour, and depend almost entirely on informal charitable networks for survival.
The humanitarian gap reflects broader tensions in Morocco’s approach to migration. While the country has undertaken some reforms in recent years—including granting temporary residence permits to certain migrant groups—it has simultaneously pursued stricter border controls and deportation policies. Officials have characterized irregular migration as a security concern, prioritizing border management over humanitarian responsibilities. This policy orientation leaves vulnerable populations, including Sudanese fleeing active warfare, with few legitimate pathways to remain and regularize their status.
Local civil society organizations and international humanitarian agencies working in Moroccan cities have documented cases of Sudanese refugees sleeping in parks, relying on mosque charities for meals, and avoiding contact with authorities for fear of detention or deportation. Some have reported cases of exploitation, including labour trafficking and sexual abuse, which disproportionately affects women and unaccompanied minors. The absence of a formal asylum system means there is no standardized mechanism for identifying vulnerable individuals or providing them with specialized protection.
The situation also reflects the broader migration geography reshaping North Africa. As conflicts intensify across the Sahel and East Africa, migration routes have become increasingly complex, with displaced persons moving not only to neighbouring countries but attempting longer journeys to North African coastal nations and eventually to Europe. Morocco’s geographic position—straddling Africa and the Mediterranean—makes it both a transit point and an unintended destination for those without resources to continue further.
International pressure on Morocco to address the plight of Sudanese refugees has remained muted, partly because the country maintains strategic importance for Western governments on counterterrorism and migration control. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called for countries across North Africa to improve asylum frameworks, but enforcement mechanisms remain weak. Meanwhile, conditions in Sudan continue to deteriorate, with humanitarian access severely restricted and reports of atrocities mounting, ensuring that outflows of displaced persons are unlikely to abate in the near term. For Sudanese in Morocco, the coming months will likely see continued uncertainty as global attention remains fragmented across multiple humanitarian emergencies.
