Sudan snubs Trump's Muslim ban 'offering banned refugees nationality'

The Sudanese government is reportedly opening its doors for refugees to obtain Sudanese nationality days after US President Donald Trump ordered a controversial travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, including Sudan.

Sudanese authorities are reportedly taking steps towards making gaining the nationality easier for Syrians, Iraqis, Yemenis, Palestinians and Burmese citizens.

"The embassies of the six countries have informed nationals that the Sudanese government is moving towards granting citizenship though straightforward procedures to those who are interested," an official in the capital Khartoum told The New Arab.

"European countries have agreed to provide aid to Khartoum to settle refugees and integrate them into Sudanese society by providing job opportunities to curb illegal migration to Europe," the source added.

The move by Sudan comes days after US President Donald Trump ordered a travel ban on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for at least 90 days. All refugees are barred for 120 days, while Syrian refugees are blocked indefinitely.

The Sudanese government has called the policy a "negative message" and summoned the US charge d'affaires to protest.

The order has triggered mass protests at US airports, as arriving refugees and travellers from the targeted countries were turned away, and stoked outrage around the globe.

Sudan has a longstanding tradition of hospitality towards refugees and asylum-seekers, with more than 150,000 refugees and asylum-seekers currently hosted in eastern Sudan, Darfur and Khartoum.

Estimates from the Government of Sudan's Commission for Refugees indicate that since 2011 Sudan has received a considerable number of Syrian refugees, with the number of arrivals estimated at 100,000 people.

South Sudanese refugees have been allowed to move freely in the country; more than 200,000 having sought safety in Sudan, fleeing from an ongoing bloody conflict.