Sudan’s Currency in Freefall: Economists Demand Structural Reforms
The Sudanese pound is facing a severe crisis, with parallel market rates soaring to 3,600 per U.S. dollar. Experts speaking to Sudanhorizon warn that temporary interventions will not prevent further collapse — Sudan needs structural economic reforms now.
Dr. Othman Al-Toum said stabilizing the pound depends on reducing U.S. dollar demand, increasing state revenue, controlling spending, and limiting government borrowing from the central bank. He stressed the importance of investing in production, cutting unnecessary imports, and expanding digital payments to improve efficiency and transparency.
Dr. Saleh Jibril highlighted the critical role of foreign reserves from agricultural, livestock, and mineral exports. He urged the government to focus on value-added manufacturing, reduce raw exports, restructure unprofitable banks, and attract foreign banks trading in currencies like yuan and ruble instead of dollars.
Economist Dr. Haitham Mohamed Fathi emphasized that remittances from Sudanese abroad have helped sustain the pound. He warned that ongoing depreciation is hitting workers’ incomes, increasing poverty, and threatening banks’ solvency. Fathi called for urgent accumulation of foreign reserves, revitalization of production, and incentives for domestic and foreign investment to safeguard Sudan’s economy.
