Prostitution laws in Sudanالسودان
Prostitution is prohibited in Sudan under the Criminal Act 1991. Since the July 2020 amendments, a person who is in a place of prostitution with the intention of providing a sexual service to another, with or without payment, outside a legal relationship, faces up to three years in prison (Article 154); the earlier alternative of up to 100 lashes was removed. Zina, sexual intercourse outside a lawful bond, remains punishable by 100 lashes for an unmarried person and by death by stoning for a married one (Article 146), and applies to both parties. Running or renting out a place for prostitution carries up to five years, rising to life imprisonment on a third conviction (Article 155), and inducing or hiring a person into prostitution up to five years (Article 156). Enforcement since the outbreak of war in April 2023 was not assessed.
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Selling sex is a specific offence (Article 154 of the Criminal Act 1991, rewritten in 2020), and all sex outside marriage is the hadd offence of zina (Articles 145–146), which covers the client as well. Running a place for prostitution and inducing a person into it are separate offences.[1][2][3]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | A person who is in a place of prostitution with the intention of providing a service of a sexual nature to another, with or without compensation and with no legal relationship between them, is punishable by up to three years in prison (Article 154 as replaced in 2020). A "place of prostitution" is any place intended for prostitution, or one with previous convictions or repeated complaints. Sex outside marriage is also zina (Article 146).[1][2][3] |
| Buying sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Section 154 targets the person providing the service, but a client who has intercourse outside a lawful bond commits zina: 100 lashes if unmarried (with optional expatriation for a man for one year) and death by stoning if married (Section 146). The 2020 amendments did not change these penalties.[1][2] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Running a place for prostitution, or renting out or allowing the use of premises knowing they are used for it, is punishable by up to five years and possible closure or forfeiture; a second conviction carries up to ten years with forfeiture, and a third life imprisonment (Section 155). The 2020 amendments removed flogging and the death penalty from this section.[1][2] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Seducing a person by inducing, taking, abducting or hiring them to commit zina, sodomy, prostitution, gross indecency or acts contrary to public morality is punishable by up to five years, and up to seven years if the person is a minor or of unsound mind or the acts are to take place abroad (Section 156, flogging removed in 2020).[1][2] |
| Advertising sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Making, trading in or possessing material that violates public morals, defined as expression intended to arouse sexual instincts, is punishable by up to one month, and dealing in such material or presenting it in a public place by up to three years (Section 153 as replaced in 2020). Inducing a person into prostitution falls under Section 156.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
A person who is in a place of prostitution with the intention of providing a service of a sexual nature to another, with or without compensation and with no legal relationship between them, is punishable by up to three years in prison (Article 154 as replaced in 2020). A "place of prostitution" is any place intended for prostitution, or one with previous convictions or repeated complaints. Sex outside marriage is also zina (Article 146).[1][2][3]
Confidence: medium. Read in REDRESS's unofficial English translations of the 1991 Act and the 2020 Official Gazette. Before 2020 the offence also allowed up to 100 lashes.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Section 154 targets the person providing the service, but a client who has intercourse outside a lawful bond commits zina: 100 lashes if unmarried (with optional expatriation for a man for one year) and death by stoning if married (Section 146). The 2020 amendments did not change these penalties.[1][2]
Confidence: medium. Unofficial English translation. Section 146(4) provided lighter penalties for the former Southern States; how zina is charged in practice against clients was not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Running a place for prostitution, or renting out or allowing the use of premises knowing they are used for it, is punishable by up to five years and possible closure or forfeiture; a second conviction carries up to ten years with forfeiture, and a third life imprisonment (Section 155). The 2020 amendments removed flogging and the death penalty from this section.[1][2]
Confidence: medium. Unofficial English translation.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Seducing a person by inducing, taking, abducting or hiring them to commit zina, sodomy, prostitution, gross indecency or acts contrary to public morality is punishable by up to five years, and up to seven years if the person is a minor or of unsound mind or the acts are to take place abroad (Section 156, flogging removed in 2020).[1][2]
Confidence: medium. Unofficial English translation.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Making, trading in or possessing material that violates public morals, defined as expression intended to arouse sexual instincts, is punishable by up to one month, and dealing in such material or presenting it in a public place by up to three years (Section 153 as replaced in 2020). Inducing a person into prostitution falls under Section 156.[1][2]
Confidence: low. Classification inferred from general provisions. The Cybercrime Act, which the UN describes as punishing acts that violate public morals, was not opened.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| The Criminal Act 1991 Criminal Act 1991 ss. 145–146 · ss. 153–156 | Part XV covers zina, prostitution, places of prostitution, seduction and materials contrary to public morality.[1] | |
| The Official Gazette Issue no. 1904 on 13-07-2020: Miscellaneous Amendments Law of 2020 (Law No. 12 of 2020) Miscellaneous Amendments (Repeal or Amendment of Provisions Restricting Freedoms) Law, Law No. 12 of 2020 items 27–31 | Replaced Section 154 on prostitution, removed flogging from Sections 155 and 156 and the death penalty from Section 155(3), and replaced Sections 152 and 153.[2] |
Timeline
Sources
- The Criminal Act 1991. REDRESS (unofficial English translation). legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- The Official Gazette Issue no. 1904 on 13-07-2020: Miscellaneous Amendments Law of 2020 (Law No. 12 of 2020). REDRESS (unofficial English translation of the Official Gazette), 13 July 2020. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Country matrix 2024: Sudan — Gender Justice and the Law. UN ESCWA, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women. intergovernmental · accessed 30 October 2026