Ridiculous fees (Sudan)

One shocking aspect about Sudan involves getting into the country. The visa fee for Sudan is a staggering US$100 and $150 for Americans. But the hidden fees are even more horrendous. The Sudanese government requires foreigners to register within three days on entry and to register again in Khartoum before leaving the country. The fines for not complying are enormous, costing well over $100. But there is a catch for visiting the immigration offices on time: you need to pay $43 at the port of entry and $10 more in Khartoum. How can ordinary people afford to lavish on such an exorbitant expense?

The Islamist regime knows full well that visitors to Sudan are normally foreign aid workers and businesspeople who tend to fork out the ridiculous sums without question. Due to the destruction of two civil wars, the NGO and IO presence in Sudan is among the highest in all Africa: many westerners and UN soldiers go to Sudan to maintain the health and security of the volatile South. Moreover, Chinese investors are scurrying to Khartoum to partake in the oil and construction bonanza. The Sudanese government, it appears, is merely exploiting the situation. According to Transparency International, Sudan ranks 156th out of 163 countries on its Corruption Perceptions Index. The visa and registration fees for foreigners are only the tip of the iceberg in a country ruled by a hugely inefficient, corrupt government.