Fuel, cash shortages in Sudan capital and states

On Wednesday, the fuel crisis returned in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. The city saw long queues of vehicles for fuel and the main bus stations experienced huge crowds waiting for transportation.

The Sudanese Oil Corporation has implemented the decision to restrict the use of petrol for the owners of private vehicles by limiting the filling of the vehicle once a week by a designated card issued by the Corporation.

The chronic shortage of ready cash in Sudan’s banks threatens to impact on agriculture. A number of farmers of El Rahad in El Gedaref state confirmed that they do not have sufficient cash to harvest the summer crops. They say that the contractors’ companies have not provided cash for the cotton harvests. They have also failed to pay dividends to a large number of farmers since the previous season.

Cash withdrawal limit

Yesterday, West Darfur witnessed a severe liquidity crisis as the banks set a SDG 500 ($10.50) limit for cash withdrawals.

A number of residents told Radio Dabanga from El Geneina that the liquidity crisis in the state has reflected negatively on the commercial movement, livelihood, medical treatment, and food.

A trader told Radio Dabanga “The banks’ decision to reduce the ceiling of the withdrawal of funds to SDG 500 because of lack of liquidity has led to discontent among bank customers”.

A similar ceiling was imposed in Khartoum state on Monday.

* As effective foreign exchange rates can vary widely in Sudan, Radio Dabanga bases all SDG currency conversions on the Market Makers Mechanism-determined daily US Dollar rate quoted by the Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS).