The Face of Truth: Standards… and Illegal Power Connections (“Jabbadat”)
Ibrahim Shaghlawi
The Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organization, in cooperation with the Sudan Electricity Holding Company, launched a nationwide campaign two days ago to combat illegal electricity connections known locally as “Jabbadat.” This campaign carries significance that goes beyond its service dimension, extending to the sustainability of electricity supply. It also places reconstruction within its proper context, as reconstruction does not merely mean restoring services, but also building public awareness that respect for public utilities and service quality is an integral part of the culture of both society and the state.
As Dr. Omar Abdullah Ibrahim, Chairman of the National Electrotechnical Committee, emphasized, “Compliance with standards protects lives and facilities, and safeguarding the national grid is a shared responsibility to ensure the stability and sustainability of electricity supply.” Accordingly, adherence to standards is a prerequisite for successful recovery and the protection of lives and property. Reconstruction begins with restoring the rule of law and reinforcing public responsibility, making the citizen a partner in safeguarding the nation’s resources.
From this perspective, the joint initiative between the Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organization and the Sudan Electricity Company constitutes an important framework for raising awareness about illegal electricity connections. It embodies a model of institutional integration during the recovery phase and promotes a culture that links compliance with standards, protection of public resources, and the sustainability of services as fundamental pillars of state reconstruction.
In my view, this is an intelligent approach that lays the foundation for a new culture linking respect for the law, protection of public funds, and the sustainability of services. It is no secret that the conditions imposed by the war previously created exceptional circumstances, forcing some families to resort to temporary illegal connections due to the disruption of large parts of the electricity network and the inability of the electricity system to perform its role from within its offices.
However, the situation has changed. With the electricity sector resuming operations, the continued installation of new transformers, the rehabilitation of power networks, the reopening of service offices, and the availability of banking applications to obtain services, there is no longer any justification for maintaining connections outside the legal framework. Persisting in what is known as “Jabbadat” no longer represents a response to a necessity imposed by war; rather, it has become an infringement upon society’s right to a stable service, a drain on state resources, and a practice that exposes its perpetrators to legal accountability while undermining the efforts being made toward reconstruction.
Here lies the importance of the message led by the Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organization. It addresses citizens not merely through the language of penalties, but through the language of national responsibility. Compliance with standards is no longer simply a technical option; it has become part of the national security system. The failure of a single transformer due to illegal electrical loads can deprive an entire neighborhood of electricity and waste resources that could otherwise be directed toward rehabilitating a power station, expanding the network, or providing services to a new area.
Nevertheless, shaping national awareness cannot be the responsibility of a single institution, regardless of its efficiency. This mission requires a broad partnership in which executive bodies, the media, neighborhood committees, educational and religious institutions, and civil society organizations all play complementary roles.
The media is responsible for transforming development messages into a societal culture. Neighborhood committees are expected to serve as the first line of defense in monitoring negative practices and promoting a culture of preserving public facilities, while educational institutions are entrusted with instilling the values of respect for the law and public property among future generations. In this sense, awareness becomes a national project rather than a seasonal campaign.
Perhaps the most important value of this experience is that it presents a model of what may be called “integrated governance,” where government institutions do not operate in isolation, but rather share knowledge, resources, and messages to achieve national objectives. Experience has demonstrated that the unified discourse between the Standards Organization and the Electricity Company has given the initiative greater strength and impact, while providing a model for maximizing the use of human and material resources—precisely what the state needs across all sectors.
Today, Sudan needs not only the rehabilitation of power stations, but also the restoration of trust between the state and its citizens. The state is responsible for providing services, while citizens are responsible for protecting them. Without this partnership, reconstruction will remain fragile, because building infrastructure cannot succeed without building awareness, respecting the law, and safeguarding public property.
According to The Face of Truth, the significance of this initiative extends far beyond the electricity sector. It confirms that Sudan’s post-war phase requires not only the reconstruction of infrastructure, but also the restructuring of the government work system.
If this model of integration between the Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organization and the Electricity Company becomes firmly established, it could evolve into a comprehensive national approach that includes citizens, neighborhood committees, civil society organizations, the education sector, and the media within a single network of shared responsibility for awareness, implementation, and oversight.
Stay well and in good health.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
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