Sudanese government economists puzzle over financial malaise

Several Sudanese government economists have presented proposals aimed at addressing issues surrounding the Sudanese economy, and stemming the plunge of the Sudanese Pound against the Dollar. However, the country’s press have been prohibited from reporting on the subject.

Sabir Mohamed Hasan, the former Director of the Bank of Sudan has called for supply-and-demand reform in monetary policies, agreement on the priorities, and spending on real resources.

Dr Yousif El Kindi has called for reduction of government spending and foreign contributions, a stop to importing government vehicles, localisation of medical treatment, prohibition of unofficial foreign exchange trading, and regulating immigration economies.

Salaheldin Karar, the member of the Council of States, has called for reducing government spending on fuel, gas, and electricity, along with reducing travel and accommodation costs for government officials.

Economic analyst Kamal Karrar believes that the only way to bolster the Pound against foreign currencies is to promote productive sectors.

He told Radio Dabanga that the economic crisis cannot be addressed by administrative decisions, but by new economic and fiscal policies. “The state is controlled by parasitic capitalism,” he said.

Press gag

The security apparatus has issued an oral order to the editors of Sudanese newspapers prohibiting the circulation of any news about the rise of the value of the US Dollar or drop in the Sudanese Pound. “The editors are strictly prohibited any mention (of the exchange rates), neither through news, analytical, reporting nor in article format.

Currency trading in Sudan's black markets occurred more after the Dollar price exceeded SDG16 last week, when Sudan's economic security and detectives forces launched an investigation and raided places believed to be gatherings for hard currency traders and clients in the markets of Khartoum.