Dozens gather outside Central Bank

Request for extension of currency exchange deadline

Dozens of civilian gathered in front of the Central Bank in Khartoum on Wednesday to call for an extension of the currency exchange deadline by two days.The civilians, mostly from Darfur, South Kordofan and other remote areas of Sudan, pleaded so that they would be able to replace the currency they possessed.

Many Sudanese citizens haven’t been able to exchange their old currency because of the abysmal security conditions, the fall season and the huge distances which make commuting difficult. Others have suffered from lack of knowledge over the deadline.

However, the failure to replace their currency with the new Sudanese pound means poverty, destitution and homelessness, given the annulment of the old currency.

Supreme Committee: No second chance

On the other hand, Awad Abu Shok speaking on behalf of the Supreme Committee said that the decision about deadline for replacement of currency was final. “There is no second chance to exchange money for any reason. The replacement process has ended its set term, which lasted for a month,” he said.

He also pointed that the replacement of small currencies – one pound and five pounds – will continue and end within six months.

It is difficult to predict how much money still remains unreplaced. With few banking facilities and poor transportation, the problem is expected to build up over years.